DON WHITE, EDITOR THE V I aLI N MA KERS ' J OURNA L

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRIT ISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I, No, I • •• • • • •• •• • •• • • ••••• VANCOUVER, B.C. • • •••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • NOVEMBER, 1957

IN TRODUC TION

BELIEVING THAT IT WOULD BE TO THE INTEREST Of OUR PRESENT AND fUTURE MEMBERSHIP TO HAVE A COMPLETE HISTORY Of OUR ASSOCIATION AND ALSO TO KEEP OUR MEMBERSHIP UP-TO-DATE ON HAPPENINGS RELATIVE TO OUR ORGANIZATION, THIS BULLETIN MAKES ITS INITIAL APPEARANCE.

MEMBERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO USE ITS SPACE TO "AIR" THEIR THOUGHTS OR TO DISCLOSE THEIR VIOLIN MAKING "SECRETS", SO TIiAT OTHERS MAY SHARE IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

PuBLICATION, fOR 11-1E PRESENT, WILL NOT BE AT ANY SET DATE, BUT JUST WHEN THE SPIRIT MOVES us: WE WILL, AT ALL TIMES, BE GLAD TO RECEIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS,

GREETINGS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

AS PRESIDENT Of THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION Of BRITISH COLUMBIA I TAKE GENUINE PLEASURE IN WELCOMING THE fiRST EDITION Of THE VIOLIN MAKERS' J OURNAL.

MAY THIS'PUBLICATION BE THE BEGINNING Of A REGULAR PERIODICAL DEDICATED TO THE INTERESTS Of VIOLIN MAKERS, NOT ONLY Of BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT THE WHOLE Of CANADA,

NEXT MEETING

GEORGE FRIESS, PRESIDENT.

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE USUAL PLACE AT 8:00 P.M, NOVEMBER L4TH. WE HOPE EVERY MEMBER WILL MAKE AN EffORT TO ATTEND fOR WE CAN PROMISE YOU A MOST INSTRUCTIVE E VENING. THE EVEN T Of THE: 'EVEN I NG Vi I lL BE A PANEL 0 I SC USS ION BY A TR 10 Of EX PER TS, MRS. MAR THA KOZA K, MR.

ANDREW LEITCH AND MR. PEOER SVINDSAY WILL COME PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS MEMBERS MAY WISH TO PUT TO THEM -- SO PLEASE THINI( UP SOME TEASERS TO STUMP THE EXPERTS,

MR, JOHN LAWSON WILL ACT AS MODERATOR AND HOPES TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ORDER.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR ATTENDANCE AT ALL MEETINGS IS VERY DESIRABLE, NOT ONLY fOR THE BENEF'IT YOU DERIVE BUT AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS, A HALf-fiLLED HOUSE CREATES A VERY COLD ATMOSPHERE fOR THE GUEST SPEAKER.

PASS I NG OF A F R I END

IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT IN THIS OUR FIRST ISSUE WE RECORD THE PASSING Of ONE WHO WE HAD HOPED WOULD GIVE US MUCH ASSISTANCE IN OUR ORGANIZATION,

MR. S,W. PORTER, BETTER KNOWN BY THE AFFECTION.�TE TERM "DoC" PORTER PASSED TO HIS REST ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 1957, DEATH CAME VERY SUDDENLY TO OUR OLD FRIEND AND IT WILL BE HARD TO fiLL HIS PLACE IN THE fiELD Of VIOLIN MAKING AND REPAIR VlORK.

HE WAS KNOWN ALL OVER THE CONTINENT. HIS f AME fOR MAKING BEAUTifULLY TONED VIOLINS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY ARTISTS EVERYWHERE.

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PASS I NG OF A FR I END ( CONT'D )

TALKING TO "Doc" DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS ONE F ELT THAT HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS GETTING NEAR THE END OF THE ROAD FOR HE REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO MSS ON THE KNOWLEDGE HE HAD ACQU IRED OVER MANY YEARS OF THOUGHT AND STUDY, TO OTHERS SO THA T THEY MAY BENEF I T BY H IS EX" PERIENCE. THIS HE HAD ALREADY PARTLY DONE IN THE SEVERAL LECTURES HE GAVE US, AND MUCH MORE HE PASSED ON THROUGH THOSE WHO MADE VIOLINS UNDER HIS INSTRUCTIONS,

HE HAS "DRUNK HIS CUP A ROUND OR TWO BEFORE; AND PASSED SILENTLY TO REST".

SOC I E TV NEWS

WE WERE GLAD TO SEE CHAN COLLINS AND MALCOLM McDONALD AT OUR LAST MEETING. BOTH HAVE BEEN ABSENT FOR SOME TIME DUE TO ILLNESS. GLAD TO HEAR THEY ARE BOTH fEELING STRONGER,

WE UNDERSTAND MRS. WALTER JACKLIN HAS BEEN CONfiNED TO HOspiTAL FOR SOME MONTHS BUT IS NOW WELL ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY. THIS HAS KEPT OUR GOOD F RIEND WALTER A WAY FROM OUR ACTIVITIES SUT WE HOPE TO HAVE HIM WI TH US AGAIN AT OUR NEXT MEETING,

MR. HORACE PLiMlEY IS AT PRESENT ENJOYING A EUROPEAN TRIP, VIE JUST WONDER IF HE CAN RESIST BRINGING BACK ANOTHER OLD MASTER TO ADD TO HIS DISTINGUISHED COLLECTION,

MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VISI TING AT E ACH OTHER'S HOMES AND THEREBY GA I NING FRIENDSHIP AND EXCHANGE OF VIOLIN GOSSIP. WE CAN'T GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER TOO WELL ...... OR CAN WEll!

THE OCTOBER 10TH MEETING

THERE WAS A GOOD ATTENDANCE TO START THE WINTER SESSION. SINCE THERE WAS lITTLE BUSINESS TO B E DONE, WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND A CONSIDERABLE TIME QUESTIONING THE SPEAKER OF THE EVENING -MR. JAMES McKENZIE. MR. McKENZIE IS A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE Of MUSICAL TECHNO�OGY� LONDON, ENGLAND, AND SPECIALIZED IN PIANO BUILDING. HOWEVER HIS KNOWLEDGE OF ACCOUSTICS AND THE SOUND PROPERTIES OF WOOD ffiOVED OF GREAT INTEREST TO US AS ViOLIN MAKERS,

HE"SAID THAT IN PIANOS IT WAS DESIRABLE TO SECURE AS EQUAL TENSION AS POSSIBLE OVER ALL STRINGS, AND SUGGESTED THAT THIS MIGHT ALSO BE OF IMPORTANCE IN VIOLINS. THE BASS STRINGS OF A PIANO ARE WIRE VlOUND TO OBTAIN GREATER TENSION OVER THAT AREA, FOR THAT REASON TOO THE LOWER STRINGS OF A VIOLIN ARE COVERED.

MR. McKENZIE STATED THAT FOR THE PiANO SOUNDING BOARD, VlHICH IS USUALLY CONSTRUCTED FROM SPRUCE OR PINE, 18 ANNULAR GROWTH RINGS TO THE INCH WERE FOUND TO PRODUCE THE QUICKEST VIBRATION. A SOUND BOARD, WHETHER IT BE PIANO OR VIOLIN, SHOULD CONTAIN WOOD THROUGH WHICH VIBRATIONS TRAVEL RAPIDLY, VIBRATIONS TRAVEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE GRAIN. THE PIANO PEOPLE HAVE IN-STRUMENTS WHICH MEASURE THIS SPEED,

THE SPEAKER ALSO STRESSED THE POINT OF ENDEAVORING TO SHOW SOME ORIGINAL!TY IN OUR WORK, PERFECTION IS SOMETHING ELUSIVE AND HAS NEVER YET BEEN OBTAINED, NOT EVEN IN THE VIOLIN TONE OF THE OLD MASTERS. WE CAN NOT EXPECT TO IMPROVE ON THEM MERELY BY COPYING THEM. THAT MAY BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE AVERAGE MAKER, BUT FOR THE TRUE SC IENTIF IC ARTiST ....... No!!

WE HOPE TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HEARING MR, McKENZIE AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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"VIA TER UNDER THE BR lOGE"

SO THAT THE JOURNAL MAY CONTAIN A COMPLETE HISTORY OF OUR ASSOCIATION WE WILL, IN THIS SPACE, REVIEW THE PAST MONTHS SINCE WE ORGANIZED.

THE V\OLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION or BRITISH COLUMBIA CAME INTO BEING ON MARCH 21ST, 1957. PROMOTION OF THIS SOCIETY VIAS DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF REV. GEORGE WRIGHT, WHO GOT THINGS STARTED BY \NVITING AS MANY VIOLIN MAKERS AS HE COULD CONTACT TO MEET AT HIS HOME. THIS RESULTED IN THE fORMATION OF OUR PRESENT GROUP.

THE ENTHUSIASM WAS SUCH THAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY PLANNED TO EXHIBIT AS A CLUB AT THE 1957 P.N.E. HOBBY SHOW. PREPARING FOR THIS EXHIBIT PRETTY WELL OCCUPIED OUR ENERGIES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

A COMMITTEE OF THREE WAS SET UP TO RUN THE EXHIBIT. THE PERSONNEL OF WHICH WAS ANDREW LEITCH ( CHAIRMAN ), MRS. MARTHA KOZAK AND DON WHITE. IT WAS AGREED THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS PUT ON DISPLAY WOULD BE IN COMPETITION liND MR. CARDO SMALLY IMMEDIATELY OFFERED A SILVER CUP FOR THE BEST INSTRUMENT IN THE SHOW. THERE WOULD ALSO BE FIRST; SECOND, AND THIRD PRIZES.

THE RESPONSE fROM OUR MEMBERSHIP WAS VERY ENCOURAGING AND RESULTED IN 35 INSTRUMENTS B EING SHOWN. THE DESIGN AND DECORATION OF THE BOOTH ITSELF WAS VERY FAVOURABLY COMMENTED UPON AND WAS ONE OF THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF THE HOBBY SHOW, AS THE CONSTANT CROWD WHICH GATHERED, TESTIFIED.

THANKS MUST BE GIVEN HERE, NOT ONLY TO THE COMMITTEE, BUT TO THE MANY MEMBERS, TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION IND IVIDUALLY WHO HELPED TO ERECT THE BOOTH AND TO BE ON OUTY THERE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

MR. CARDO SMALLY, WITH T WO ASSISTANTS, ACTED AS JUDGES AND THEIR TASK VIAS NOT AN EASY ONE. MR. SMALLY REMARKED LATER, "THEY WERE ALL GOOD INSTRUMENTS AND MANY OF' THEM WERE WORTHY OF fiRST PR I ZEu • THE JUDGES I" I NAL DEC I S ION WAS AS FOLLOWS: -

fiRST PRIZE FOR VIOLINS: MRS. MARTHA KOZAK AND PEDER SVINDSAY. SECOND PRIZE FOR VIOLINS: FLOYD HOLLY AND CARL THOEN.

THIRD PRIZE FOR VIOLINS: ANDREW LEITCH AND HERBERT MARTIN. fiRST PRIZE 'CELLO: GEORGE FRIESS BRONZE MEDAL FOR

HAND MADE VIOLIN BOW: PEDER SVINDSAY. SPECIAL AWARD FOR VIOLA: PcDER SVINDSAY. THE CARDO SMALLY TROPHY FOR BEST INSTRUMENT IN THE SHOW WAS WON BY R.W. HELIN.

THE ASSOCIATION AS A WHOLE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE MEDAL FOR ATTRACTIVENESS, INTEREST AND GENERAL METHOD Of DISPLAY. THIS LATTER AWARD WAS ESPECIALLY PRAISEWORTHY IN ViEW OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS OUR FIRST P.N.E. EXHIBIT.

PERHAPS THE MOST GRATIFYING FEATURE OF THE EXHIBIT WAS THE LARGE NUMBER OF' INDIVIDUALS WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT, PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ONLY INTeRESTED IN OUR WORK, BUT WHO ALSO EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO JOIN OUR ASSOCIATION. OUR TASK WAS MADE EASIER SINCE WE WERE ABLE TO PRESENT THEM AN ATTRACTIVE CIRCULAR GIVING FULL DETAILS OF' OUR ORGANIZATION. MANY THANKS TO MR. JOHN LAWSON FOR EDITING THIS FOR US.

SUCH WAS THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISPLAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE AL READY LAYING PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR'S EXHIBIT. IT IS HOPED THAT WE WILL AT THAT T IME HAVE VIOLINS FROM MANY PARTS OF CANADA ON DISPLAY.

IN FUTURE ISSUES VIE WILL CONTINUE TO RECORD THE SOCIETY'S PAST ACTIVITIES. SOME OF THE LECTURES WE RECEIVED ARE ALSO WELL WORTH RECORDING AND SHOULD MAKE GOOD REfERENCE MATERIAL.

VE GET SO SOON OLD AND YET SO LATE SCHMART.

OLD GERMAN PROVERB - I - 1-3

D O N WHITE , EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOUR NAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I, No. 2 . ..... . .... . .... .... . VANCOUVER, B. C. • • •• , ..................... DECEMBER, 1957

BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH • • • • • • • • • • • 8:00 r.M.SHAR P

PLACE - 4136 SOPHIA STREET

. . . .

MUS IC

. ... . . ., ... . .

GAMES

.... . . .. . .... ...

REFRESHMENTS

. ... .. . . .. . . .

CHRISTMAS C AROLS WILL BE PLAYED BY OUR NEW TWELVE PIECE ORCHESTRA -

• • • • II •

THIS P ARTY IS O PEN TO ALL MEMBERS A ND THEIR I'IIVES OR SWEETHEARTS • • • • • COME O NE

AND AlL .............. MAKE THIS PARTY A R E AL S U C C E S S

CHR IS TMAS GREET I NGS

THE "JOURNAL" JOINS THE EXECUTIVE OF THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF B.C. IN WISHING ALL

OF OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES "A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS".

MAY THE SPIRIT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HAPPY SEASON BE WITH US ALL, THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR,

WOLF NOTES

By OUR PHESIDENT

THE NOVEMBER MEETING SAW THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 1957 P.N.E. HOBBY SHOW AWARDS, THIS MAY

WELL BECOME AN ANNUAL AFFAIR AND SHOULD ACT AS A STIMULUS TO OUR MEMBERS AS WELL AS RAISING THE

STANDARD OF ASSOCIATION-MADE INSTRUMENTS,

I F THE WiNNERS AT T HIS T IME ARE ENJOYING, AND JUSTiFIABLY SO, A CERTAIN FEELING OF SMUGNESS

WE HOPE IT DOES NOT DEVELOP INTO A DELUSION OF GRANDEUR. LET US KEEP IN MIND THE STORY OF THE

VIOLIN MAKER WHO THOUGHT THAT HE WAS STRADIVARI AND WHEN ASKED WHY SAID, "GOD TOLD ME"! JUST THEN A VOICE FROM THE NEXT CELL PIPED UP, "I 010 NO SUCH THING".

THE NOVEMBER MEETING

MR, JOHN LAWSON, AS MODERATOR IS TO BE CONGRA TULA TED ON THE MANNER IN WH ICH HE HANDLED THE PANEL WHICH WAS COMPOSED OF MRS, MARTHA KOZAK, MR, PEDER SVINDSAY AND MR, ANDREW LEI TCH.

MANY INTERESTING QUESTIONS WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AMONG WHICH WAS THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BASS BAR, THE PANEL ALL SEEMED TO AGREE THAT THERE CAN BE NO FIXED RULE REGULATING THE SIZE BUT

THE POSITION AS LAID DOWN IN MOST TEXT BOOKS CAN AND MUST BE ADHERED TO,

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THE NOVEMBER MEE TING (CONT'D)

THE SUBJECT OF' VARNISH WAS DISCUSSED AND THE PANEL THOUGHT IT DID NOT MATTER TO ANY GREAT EXTENT WHETHER OIL OR SPIRIT VARNISH WERE USED AS THERE ARE MANY FIRST CLASS VIOLINS WHICH WERE COATED WITH SPIRIT VARNISH.

IN THE MATTER OF' F HOLES IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE USUAL TYPE WAS QUITE SATISFACTORY.

I T IS HOPED THAT SOME TIME IN THE F'UTURE VIE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PANEL DISCUSS ION AS THERE MUST Be MANY QUESTIONS WHICH PUZZLE AT LEAST THE BEGINNERS,

OUR THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF' THE PANEL FOR THE ABLE MANNER IN IVH ICH THEY ANSWERED ALL QUES TI ONS.

A MEMORIAL

THERE COULD BE NO MORE FITTING MEMORIAL TO THE LATE "Doc" PonTER THAN TO RECORD HIS THEORIES, DEDUCTIONS AND METHODS. BEGINNING IN THIS ISSUE, YOU WILL FIND THE FIRST OF' A SERIES OF ArHICLES DEVOTED TO THIS ENDEAVOR. THEY ,'<RE BEING WRITTEN BY ONE OF "Docs" CLOSE F"RIENDS, MR. FLOYD HOLLY.

THE TASK IS NOT AN EASY ONE INVOLVING AS IT DOES INVESTIGATION AND SEARCH THROUGH THE MANY PAPERS AND CLIPPINGS LEF'T BEHIND.

WE WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU KEEP THESE ARTICLES FOI� F"UTURE REFERENCE. THEY SHOULD PROVE IN-VALUABLE AS MR. PORTER VIAS PROUD TO ADMIT THAT HE VIAS WELL ON THE WAY TO PRODUCING IN HIS VIOLINS THE TRUE "ITALIAN TONE".

TH� WORK OF THE LATE "DOC" PORTER

By FLOYD HOLLY

THE PASSING OF MR. W.F. PORTER IS FELT BY MANY PEOPLE IN VARIOUS WAYS. TO ALL HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND. INCLUDED AMONG HIS VIOLIN FRIENDS ARE MANY ASPIRING MAKERS, TO THESE A WELL HAS RUN DRY, A RIVER HAS CEASED TO FLOW, AN EVER READY SOURCE OF INFORMATION HAS BEEN CUT OF'F, THE RESULTS OF WHICH, EVEN AT THIS EARLY OATE ARE BEING FELT.

To THOSE OF US WHO KNEW H 1M INTIMATELY, WE KNOW AND REAL IZE THAT THE OLD I TAL IAN MAS TERS HAVE LOST AN ARDENT DISCIPLE,

AF'TER A LIFE TIME OF ZEALOUS ENDEAVOR, CAREFUL OBSERVATION, AND DILIGENT APPLICATION Of ALL THAT HE F'OUND IN HIS SEARCHINGS, HE HAS LEFT MANY FINE TONED INSTRUMENTS. THESE ARE JUDGED TO POSSESS "ITALIAN TONE", WHICH WE KNOW HE WOULD HAVE AS HIS OBITUARY, BY MANY FOREMOST JUDGES OF THE VIOLIN,

HIS MODEL IS A CLOSE COPY OF' STRADIVARIUS. THE FOLLOWING MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN FROM THE VIOLIN IN THE PRESENT POSSESSION Of MR. FREDERICK GREAVES, A TEACHER Of WIDE EXPERIENCE. THIS fINE TONED INSTRUMENT HAS THAT COMBINATION OF DEPTH, WITH A SLIGHT NASAL QUALITY, WHICH IMPARTS BRIGHTNESS AND LIFE, GiViNG A CARRYING POWER WHICH IS A JOY TO THE PEHFORMER AND LISTENER ALIKE. THE LENGTH IS 13 & 15/16", THE UPPER BOUTS 6 & 9/16" WIDE, THE INNER BOUTS 4 & 7/16", THE LOWER BOUTS 8 & 1/8", THE RIBS I & 1/4" H IGH THROUGHOUT. THE "F" HOLES HAVE THE A PPEARANCE OF BE ING GENEROUSLY CUT, H AVING AT THEIR WIDEST POINT THE WIDTH OF 9/64TH'S OF lIN INCH,

F'OLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF STRADIVARI IN HIS LATER EPOCH, THE BACK IS RATHER FLAT IN THE ARCHING. THIS, MR. PORTER FELT, GAVE MORE POWER TO THE TONE OF HIS ViOLINS.

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THE VlORK OF' THE LATE "DOC" PORTER (CONT'D)

THE THICKNESS OF' THE VIOLIN BACK AS LAID DOWN B Y MR. PORTER, IS II/64TH'S Of AN INCH OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 5" X 3 " IN THE CENTRE, GRADUATING TO 6/64TH'S OF AN INCH AT THE EDGES. NO DOUBT HE WOULD VARY SLIGHTLY ACCORDING TO HIS OPINION AS TO THE ACOUSTIC QUALITIES OF EACH INOlvlDUAL PIECE OF WOOD.

THE FRONT HE WAS VERY DEfiNITE ABOU� WHEREAS THE CURVE OF THE BACK CAN BE LEFT TO IN-DIVIDUAL TASTE, WITHIN REASON. THE CURVE OF THE BELLY TO HIM, HELD THE SECRET OF HIS TONE; WHICH HE READILY IMPARTED TO ALL WHO WOULD STOP AWRILE AND LISTEN.

FROM HIS OBSERVATIONS OF STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN PHOTOGRAPHS, DURING HIS LATER YEARS; "DOC" OBSERVED A DEFINITE COMPOUND CURVE IN THE ARCHING OF THE STRADIVARIUS BELLIES. QUICKLY ADOPTING THE CURVE, HE ACHIEVeD OUTSTANDING SUCCESS IN HIS TONAL REPRODUCTION. HIS SUCCESS AND RESULTS, ESTABLISHED THIS PRINCIPLE PERMANENTLY; IN HIS METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. HIS MEASUREMENTS OF' THE CURVE IS AS FOLLOWS: -

DRAW A STRAIGHT LINt, MARK OFF' TWO POINTS A AND 0 14" APART. AT A DISTANCE OF 4 & 1/4" FROM A AND D RESPECTIVELY, MARK POINTS B AND C, WITH A AS TOP MAKE DEPTH OF CURVt AT B 5/8TH'S OF' AN INCH, AT POINT C, 1/2". THESE MEASUREMENTS INCLUDE THE THICKNESS OF PLATE, ·WHICH GIVES A AND D THE THICKNESS OF 1/8TH'S OF AN INCH EACH. CONNECT THESE 4 NEW POINTS A, B,C AND 0, AND DESCRIBE FREE HAND THE CURVE CONTAINED WITHIN THESE POINTS ALLOWING F'OR THE DISHING IN FROM THE EDGES.

THE THICKNESS OF HIS BELLIES ARE 7/64TH'S OF AN INCH IN THE CENTRE, OVER AN AREA APPROXi-MATELY 5" X 3 ", GRADUATING TO 6/64TH'S OF AN INCH AT THE EDGES. ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD ONE WORK BELOW THIS THICKNESS, CLAIMS MR. PORTER, IF SO THE RESULT WILL BE WEAK TONE. MUCH IMPORTANCE IS LA 10 UPON THE CAREFUL GRADUATIONS FROM THE CENTRE TO THE EOGES.

(TO BE CONCLUDED)

SOC I ET Y NEWS AND NONSENSE

WE ARE SORRY TO LOSE ONE OF OUR VALUED MEMBERS I N THE PERSON OF MR. JOHN LAWSON, WHO HAS MOVED FROM OUR FAIR CITY TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN TORONTO "THE GOOD". GOOD LUCK JOHN.

WE HEAR THAT PEDER SVINDSAY IS MAKING ANOTHER VIOLA WHICH HE SAYS WILL BE "BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER".

WE MISSED CARL THOEN AT OUR LAST MEETING. HOPE HIS FAMILY HAS RECOVERED FROM THE ASIATIC F'LU • • • • • OR WAS IT SCANDINAVIAN?

MR. GUNTER 8EOA VIAS A WELCOME VISITOR TO OUR LAST MEETING AND �IANY OF THE MEMBERS WERE INTERESTED IN HIS SAMPLE CASE OF VIOLIN WOOD, ETC •• • • • MEMBERS CAN OBTAIN ALL THEIR VIOLIN REQUIREMENTS FROM MR. 8EDA AT COST.

DON'T FORGET THE BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH. COME AND BRING YOUR WIFE (AND OR) SWEETHEART.

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DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • • NO. 3 •• • • • • • • • ••• •• • • • • • VANCOUVER, B.C • • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • JA NUAR� 1958.

WELCOME TO A.D. 1958

THE YEAR 1958 WILL ALREADY BE SEVERAL DAYS OLD BY THE TIME THIS IS READ. IT WILL NOT, HOWEVER, BE TOO LATE TO WISH ALL OUR ' READERS A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEA'R.

IN BIDDING GOOD-BYE TO 1957 WE DO SO REMEMBERING HE WAS NOT SUCH A BAD FELLOW. 1957 BROUGHT FORTH OUR SOCIETY WHICH WAS THE MEANS OF PROVIDING US WITH MANY NEW FRIENDS, FRIENDS WITH A COMMON INTEREST -- ALL REAL NICE PEOPLE, Two OF THESE NOW "REST FROM THErR LABORS", ONE HAS DEPARTED TO THE FAR END OF' THE EARTH • • • • "SHlpS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT; AND SPEAK TO EACH OTHER IN PASSING�"

DURING THIS NEW YEAR WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENLARGE OUR GROUP AND TO DELVE INTO THE SCIENCE OF' VIOLIN MAKING. WE WILL WORK NOT ONLY FOR OUR CHOSEN HOBBY BUT ALSO AS A GROUP OF SINCERE FRIENDS INTENT ON FURTHERING OUR ACQUAINTANCE AND ENLARGING OUR FELLOWSHIP, FOR WEALTH, KNOWLEDGE, HOBBIES, EVEN HEALTH ARE OF PCOR CONSEQUENCE WITHOUT FRIENDS, TRUE FRIENDSHIP CAN MAKE THIS OLD WORLD A SPLENDID PLACE TO LIVE IN. WAR, HATE, JEALOUSY, NO FORM OF EVIL CAN EXIST AMONG TRUE FRIENDS.

THE NEXT MEET I NG

THE MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 8:00 P,M. SHARP WILL CONSIST OF A DIS­CUSSION ON VIOLIN VARNISHING AND POLISHING.

MR, JAMES MCKENZIE, WHO GAVE US SUCH AN INSTRUCTIVE T ALK LAST NOVEMBER, WILL DESCRIBE THE D IFF'ERENT VARNISH I NG PROCESSES AND METHODS OF APPL ICA TI ON ALSO THE I NGRED IENTS THA T MAKE UP THE DIFFERENT VARNISHES. MR. McKENZiE IS, BY PROF'ESSION, A FRENCH POLISHER, AND KNOWS HIS SUBJECT. LET US DO HIM THE COMPLIMENT OF A LARGE TURN-OUT. THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR. LET US START IT RIGHT BY A FULL ATTENDANCE,

THE CHR is TMAS PARTY

THE EXECUT I VE VI ISH TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO HELPED TO MAKE THE CHR IS TMAS PAR TY SO SUCCESSFUL. THE ORCHESTRA WHO PLAYED So NOBLY AND THE LADIES WHO PREPARED THE DELIGHTF' UL REFRESHMENTS DE­SERVE SPECIAL THANKS.

THE CAROL "LO How A ROSE" WAS RENDERED SO EXPERTLY THAT, BY SPECIAL REQUEST, IT WAS RE-PEA TED AGA I N AF TER SUPPER. CONS I DER I NG THA T TH I S WAS THE FIRS T OCCAS ION THA T THE ORCHES TRA HAD PLAYED TOGETHER THEY DID REMARKABLY WELL. THE TONAL QUALITY WAS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD. IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT OUR ORCHESTRA NOW PARTLY F'ORMED WILL GET TOGETHER AGAIN AND GIVE US SOME SELECTIONS AT A FUTURE DATE. ONE CANNOT PASS WITHOUT MENTIONING THE SPLENDID SINGiNG OF THE AUDIENCE WHO ENTERED INTO THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BY THEIR INFORMAL YET EXCELLENT SINGING OF THOSE GOOD OLD CAROLS.

MR. CARDO SMALLY GAVE SEVERAL VIOLIN SOLOS IN AN iNFORMAL BUT DELIGHTFUL MANNER WHILE, MR. VIRIGHT GAVE A TOUCH Of" HUMOR TO THE AFFAIR, AN UNEXPECTED PLEASURE WAS THE SINGING OF MRS. HOLLY.

ALL AGREED THAT "A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL". I - 3 - I

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" PRESIDENT'S CORNER "

ON MARCH 2 1, 1957, A SMALL GROUP or ViOLIN MAKERS MET TOGETHER AND rORMED WHAT IS NOW

"THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION or BRITISH COLUMBIA".

By COMMITTING OURSELVES TO THE DEVELOPMENT .AND ENCOURAGEMENT or THE ART OF VIOLIN MAKING WE ARE BUILDING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION. WHAT SORT OF STRUCTURE WILL RISE ON THAT FOUNDATION IS

A QUESTION WHICH WE MIGHT ASK OURSELVES AT THIS TIME, THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER YEAR.

By MEETING REGULARLY, LISTENING TO LECTURES, HAVING PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND ENCOURAGING CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, A PATTERN IS GRADUALLY BEING FORGED, A PATTERN THAT COULD DEVELOP INTO

WHAT, IN THE FUTURE, MIGHT WELL BE TERMED "THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SCHOOL or VIOLIN MAKING".

DURING THE FEW SHORT MONTHS OF OUR EXISTENCE, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE: FEELING OUR WAY, AS IT WERE, IT HAS BECOME QUITE EVIDENT THAT· OURS IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND ROBUST MEMBERSHIP, EAGER IN THE PURSUIT OF THE VIOLIN MAKING CRAfT, CONFIDENTLY FACING THE FUTURE,

TUUM EST, VIOLIN MAKERS

GEORGE FR lESS

"HE WAS A GOOD GUY"

IT IS WITH A VERY REAL SENSE OF LOSS THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE PASSING or ONE Of OUR MOST EARNES T MEMBERS. MR. A NDREIV LE I TCH D I ED VER Y SUDDENL Y ON DECEMBER 9 TH, AND HE 1.£ AVES A GA P IN

OUR MEMBERSHIP VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL.

DURING THE LAST SUMMER AND fALL, WAS VERY CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH "ANDY", AND WE BECAME

INTIMATE FRIENDS. THIS PERSONAL LOSS IS SOMETHING THAT CUTS VERY DEEPLY.

IN LOOKING FOR AN ADJECTIVE TO DESCRIBE OUR FRIEND I AT L AST CHOSE THE EXPRESSION "HE WAS A GOOD GUY". ONE COULD SA Y "HE WAS A GENTLEMAN" - "HE WAS A REAL GOOD fELLOW" - "HE WAS

ONE Of THE BES T". ALL THESE, HOWEVER SEEM TO SUGGES T Sor�E RESERVA TI ON. "A GOOD GUY", SUGGES TS

ONLY THAT WHICH IS GOOD -- SINCERE, HONEST, SOCIABLE, JOLLY, A REAL fRIEND AND WORTHY COM­PANION -- SUCH WAS ANDY.

IN HIS CHOSEN HOBBY, VIOLIN MAKING, ANDY PRODUCED SOME VERY fiNE INSTRUMENTS AND HIS VIOLINS ARE TO BE fOUND IN SEVERAL ORCHESTRAS IN THIS PRovINCE. ON PLAYING HIS LAST VIOLIN AT THE CHRISTM,�S PARTY I REMARKED "THIS VIOLIN HAS EVERYTHING". IT IS HARD TO REALIZE THAT HE PLAYED IN OUR ORCHESTRA THAT SAME NIGHT,

WE WILL NEVER fORGET THE WORK HE DID AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE. No ONE

WORKED HARDER AND AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, TRAVELLING MANY TIMES A DISTANCE Of T WELVE MILES TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND LATER TO THE HOBBY S�IOIV WHERE HE SHOWED UP NEARLY EVERY DAY OF THE EX­HIBITION.

SUCH· THEN IS THE FRIEND WE SAY "GOOD BYE" TO. WE WILL NOT QUICKLY FORGET ANDY. "HE WAS A GOOD GUY",

SEVERAL Of OUR NEW MEMBERS HAVE MADE INQUIRIES REGARDING BOOKS ON VIOLIN MAKING. THE rOLLOWING ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER THE BEST WRITINGS ON THIS SUBJECT.

"VIOLIN MAKING AS IT VIAS AND IS" BY HERRON ALLAN, WHILE THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSY OVER

SOME Of HI S METHODS, IT IS NEVERTHELESS CONSIDERED THE "BIBLE" Of VIOLIN MAKERS AND IS TO BE fOUND IN NEARLY EVERY VIOLIN WORKSHOP IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD. THE COST ABOUT $6.00 BUT

CAN BE OBTAINED ON LOAN fROM THE VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY.

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"You CAN MAKE A STRADIvARIUS VIOLIN" BY JOSEPH V. READ PROCURED fROM POPULAR MECHANICS. A REAL BOOK fOR THE BEGINNER. FULL SIZE MAPS Of EVERY PART Of THE VIOLIN. I NG THESE, ONE CAN BE SURE TO PRODUCE A GOOD INS TRUMENT PROV I DING HE USES SIDER THIS BOOK A "MUST" fOR THE PERSON WHO IS MAKING HIS fiRST VIOLIN.

A PENT U P STRA IN

By REV, GEO, WRIGHT

SAID THE FIDDLE TO HER BEAUX "YOU GRATE ME MUCH". I WISH THOU HAD A SOfTER TOUCH, THAT WOULD MAKE MY fiBRE'S VI-BR-ATE TILL WITH LAUGHTER WOULD SING OUT.

THEN WOULD yIELD THE HARMONY, WHICH HAS fOR YEARS BEEN STORED AWAY, A HOPE HAS LINGERED, THA T SOME DA Y, A MASTER'S TOUCH, MIGHT COME MY WAY.

THEN I WOULD L If T MY HEAD, (MY SCROLL), WHICH LONG, - SO LONG, - HAS DROOPED IN SHAME, BECAUSE Of UN-TRA INED HAND AND SOUL, WHILE LESSER KIN, HAS STOLE MUCH fAME.

THEN I VlOULD DO THE TH I NG fOR MAN, THA T GOD I N TENDED, - AND I CAN, If WE COULD ONLY TALK AND PLAN, WE'D fiND HIM SOME - WHERE IN THE LAND.

THE VELVET TONE IS IN THE WOOD. GOD PUT I T THERE, I KNOW I T'S GOOD, BUT HOW TO MAKE ME UNDER-STOOD, I DO NOT KNOW, BUT If I COULD

I '0 TELL THE WORLD IN TONES SO SWEEt, THEY' 0 BOW I N ReVERENCE, AND REPEA T, "IT'S LIKE THE STRAIN OF ANGELS' HARpS," DEVINE, - I T STIRS THE HUMAN HEARTS,

ALAS, - My DEAR OLD I" IDDLE STICK, I T'S NOT YOUR fAULT, - I AM JUS T SICK

Of WAITING, - LONGING, - 0 So LONG To SING MY OWN CRE-ATIVE SONG.

THE BLESSED BOOK SAyS "WATCH AND PRAY". "HAVE fAITH IN GOD", HE'LL BRING THE DAY THEN EVERY-THING WILL PRAISE HIS NAME, IN HEAVEN, - AND EARTH, - AND SEA THE SAME.

By CAREfULLY fOLLOW� GOOD WOOD. WE CON-

DECEMBER, 1955.

ONE Of THE MOST IMPORTANT MEMBERS ON THE STAff Of THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL IS MRS. LEONA PEDOSUK, CHARM I NG WifE Of ONE Of OUR MEMBERS. LEONA NO T ONL Y TYPES THE PROOfS BUT RUNS Off THE MIMEOGRAPHS AND DOES A SPLENDID JOB. "OUR GRATITUDE IS FILLED WITH A LIVELY SENSE Of fAVORS TO COME."

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DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOL I N MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRIT I SH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • • NO. 4 • • • • •• •• • •• • • • • ••• VANCOUVER, B.C • • • • • • • • •• • •• • • • •• • • •• • •• •• FEBRUARY, 1958

NEXT MEETING

DON'T FORGET THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH IS THE DATE Of OUR NEXT MEETING WHIOH WILL TAKE THE fORM OF A ROUND TABLE DISCUSS ION ON A TOPIC OR TOPICS YET TO BE ANNOUNCED.

INTERESTING LECTURE

By MR. JAMES McKENZIE

MR. McKENZIE GAVE ANOTHER Of HIS INTERESTING AND CONSTRUCTive TALKS AT OUR LAST MEETING.

SPEAK I NG AT THIS OCCASION ON "VARNISH, ITS COMPOSITION AND THE MANY METHODS Of APPL I CATION". THE LIVELY D I SCUSS I ON AND THE MANY QUESTIONS SUBMITTED fNOICATED THAT HIS TALK WAS NOT ONLY IN­fORMATIVE BUT IS ONE WHICH EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT.

ONE fELT THAT HE RESTRA I NED HIMSELf WHEN SPEAKING Of THE SECRETS Of THE OLD MASTERS ANO THAT EVEN STRADIVARI HIMSELf MIGHT HAVE WELCOMED THE ADVANCED INfORMATION AND TECHN I QUE NOW BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO US BY SCIENCE

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

SOME Of OUR MEMBERS ARE PERHAPS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT OUR ASSOCIATION I S THE ONLY ONE Of ITS KINO IN EXISTENCE. WE THOUGHT So TOO UNTIL WE NOTICED AN ADVERTISEMENT IN "THE STRAD" OESCRIBING AN ASSOC IATION WITH ALMOST THE SAME TITLE AS OURS ... THE VIOL I N MAKERS ASSOCIATION. RATHER A CO I NCIDENCE ISN'T IT? THIS WEEK WE RECEIvED WORD fROM THIS SISTER ASSOCIATION IN THE fORM Of THEIR MONTHLY BULLETIN WHICH IS'CALLED "THE LUTHERIE". THE HEADQUARTERS Of THIS NEW ORGANIZATION IS LOCATED IN HUD6ERSfIELD, ENGLAND.

THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO TAKE THINGS SOMEWHAT MORE SERIOUS THAN WE DO. TRUE WE WERE FIRST OR-GANIZED MORE AS A SOCIAL CLUB WITH SOME' IDEA Of POOLING OUR KNOWLEDGE. MANY Of us ALREADY F�EL THAT WE ARE OUTGROWING THIS INITI'AL AIM. JUST WHAT'DIRECTION WE MOVE MUST SOON BE DECIDED BY OUR M EMBERSH I P. THE "LUTHERIE" I S FILLED WITH THE LATEST DATA Of SUCH THINGS AS "THE ELASTICITY Of Woon" - THE RELATION Of BELLY AND BACK AND OTHER SUCH I MPORTANT SUBJECTS. WE WISH OUR S I STER

ORGANIZATION EVERY SUCCESS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR THESE FACTS AND ALSO THAT THEY MAY GAIN THE I N­TERES T Of ALL TRUE VIOLIN MAKERS.

WE WOULD LIKE AT TH I S TIME TO QUOTE FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGE Of "THE LUTHERIE".

EDITORIAL COMMENTS ( QUOTATION )

... � .ALL AROUND us THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE IN EVERY SPHERE OF HWAN LIFE MOVES WITH SUCH RAPID

STRID ES THAT IT BECOMES DIFTICUl.T TO FOLLOW THE LA,TEST DEVELOPMENTS, EVEN FOR A SPECIALIST IN ONE I SOLATED TRADE. PLASTICS, ELECTRONIC S, ATOMIC ENERGY, BRING CHANGES I NTO OUR LifE WITH, ASTONISHING SPEED. LIfE I S MOVING AT A SUPERSON I C SPEED TOWARDS THE TRIUMPH Of SC IENCE.

BUT IN THE VIOLIN MAKERS' WORKSHOP WE ARE BACK IN THE 16TH CENTURY. WHAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR S TRADIVAR I IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR US. MYSTERY, SECRETS, ALCHEMY, MANIPULATION Of DRAGON'S BLOOD IN SEARCH Of THE ELUSIVE VARNISH: ONE FINDS ALL THESE IN THE DEN OF AN AMATEUR VIOL I N MAKER OR I N THE WORKSHOP Of THE PROfESS 10NAL.

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EDITORIAL COMMENTS (QUOTATION) (CONT'D )

THE FACTORS HOLDING US BACK ARE VERY POWERFUL. BUT BEING MOSTLY HUMAN FACTORS, SUCH AS THE SHORTAGE OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SELFISHNESS, JEALOUSY, MONEY MATTERS. THEY COULD BE OVERCOME IN THE SAME WAY AS IN ANY OTHER ART OR SCIENCE, BY RESEARCH, DISCUSSION AND THE PUBLICATION OF

ESTABL I SHED FACTS. FOR THIS PURPOSE THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOC I ATION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED AND THE

JOURNAL ISSUED • • •.

• • • • • • • •

"HAND" MADE VIOLINS

By DON WHITE

THE MOTION PRESENTED BY MR. FLOYD HOLLY AT OUR LAST MEETING SUGGESTING THAT RULES BE I M­POSED TO ASSURE THAT EVERY PART POSSIBLE OF A HAND MADE VIOL I N BE THE ABSOLUTE WORK OF n�AT PARTICULAR INDIvIDUAL I S ONE THAT DESERVES OUR EARNEST ATTENTION.

THE OBJECT OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO AIR SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT AND TO ASK THAT MEMBERS DO A LITTLE THINKING ON TH I S MATTER BEFORE DEFINITE STEPS ARE TAKEN.

IN THIS ARTICLE I AM STRICTLY NEUTRAL. HEREW I TH THEN • • • • • •

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

OUR CONSTITUTION STATES DEF I NITELY THAT OUR AIMS ARE "TO ENCOURAGE THE ART OF V I OLIN MAKING IN CANADiI. How CAN WE ACCEPT THAT MOTTO I F VIE CONDONE THE PURCHASE OF PARTS SUCH AS SCROLLS, F I NGERBOARDS, ETC., TO BE PLACED ON A "HAND-MADE VIOLIN? SUPPOSE YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE A FIRST-CLASS INSTRUMENT, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF SOMEONE ADMIRED YOUR BEAUTIFUL SCROLL? EMBARRASSED?? .... "SORRY, I BOUGHT THAT READY-MADE".

SUPPOSE YOU WISHED TO SEEL THAT INSTRUMENT, COULD YOU REALLY ADVERT I SE IT AS HAND-MADE?

LASTLY, IS I T FAIR THAT VIOLINS MADE ALMOST COMPLETELY BY HAND SHOULD COMPETE FOR PRIZES AGA I NST VIOLINS HALF THE PARTS OF WH I CH WERE BOUGHT?

THE NEGA T I VE.

HOw CAN YOU PROVE THAT A SCROLL WAS NOT HAND-MADE? You HAVE ONLY THE MAKER'S WORD FOR IT. I T COULD VERY WELL BE A BOUGHT SCROLL WORKED OVER BY THE MAKER. HE COULD DO THIS IN A FEW HOURS AND INSERT HIS CHARACTER INTO THE WORK. W I TH BOUGHT BENT RIBS THE MATTER BECOMES IM-POSS IBLE.

WHERE SHOULD WE STOP? SHOULD WE GO TO THE EXTREME AND MAKE OUR OWN STR I NGS? • • • • I SHUDDER FOR OUR" POOR PUSSY-CATt SHOULD THE FINGERBOARD BE HAND-MADE? IF NOT, THEN WHY DEMAND A HAND CARVED SCROLL?

WE CANNOT ENFORCE RULES UPON THE HOBBY SHOW. INSTRUMENTS OTHER THAN THOSE MADE BY OUR MEMBERS ARE IN COMPETITION AGAINST OURS. Do WE SUGGEST RULES FOR THEM?

LET H I M PURCHASE ALL THE PARTS HE WISHES • • • • THERE IS STILL ONE THING HE CANNOT BUY • • • THE OLD I TALIAN TONE THAT HE WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE HIMSELF.

A SUGGESTED SOLUTION. TO MY M I ND IT WOULD BE DIFF I CULT TO ENFORCE A LAW OF THIS NATURE. RATHER I WOULD SUGGEST

THAT AT OUR MEETINGS VIE ENCOURAGE BETTER WORKMANSHIP IN OUR INSTRUMENTS AND PO I NT OUT THAT THE PRIDE OF A GOOD ViOLIN MAKER I S THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY POSS I BLE PART OF HIS INSTRUMENT W AS THE WORK OF HIS OWN HANDS.

To THIS END I WOULD SUGGEST THAT OUR ASSOC IATION OBTAIN PR I NTED LABELS OR CERTIFICATES, OR BOTH. THESE LABELS TO BE INSERTED I N ANY VIOLIN OF PROVEN WORTH AND OUTSTAND I NG MERIT. MEMBERS WOULD SUBMIT THEIR INSTRUMENTS WHICH WOULD THEN BE PASSED UPON BY A COMM I TTEE OF COMPETENT JUDGES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE TEST WOULD BE A VERY RIGID ONE.

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HAND-MADE VIOLINS (CONT'O)

WE: COULD HAVE FIRS T CLASS CERTIF ICATES AND SECOND CLASS. I FEEL, ALSO, THA T WE WOULD HAVE AT LAST TAKEN A DEfiNITE STEP TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A "B .C. SCHOOL OF VIOLIN MAKING".

SHOULD THE OWNER WISH TO SELL HIS INSTRUMENT HE WOULD HAVE THE HALL MARK or QUALITy ••• • •

"ApPROVED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION Of B.C." fOR THE PROTECT ION Of THE BUYER, ON THE LABEL, INSIDE HIS VIOLIN. SUCH AN INSTRUMENT COULD HOLD ITS OWN IN ANY COMPANyl

OUR WRITE-UP IN THE "STRAD".

THOSE OF YOU WHO TAKE THE "STRADh WILL HAVE NOTICED AN ARTICLE BY OUR VICE- PRESIDENT GIVING OUR ASSOCIATION AN EXCELLENT "WRITE-UP".

WE HAVE ALREADY RECE'lvED MANY LETTERS FROM INOlvlDUALS WHO HAVE SEEN THIS NOTICE. THESE LETTERS COME fROM ENGLAND, FRANCE, U.S.A. AND MANY PAR TS Of CANADA, AND CONTA I N CONGRA TULA TI ONS AND ENQuiRIES ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE NOW OEF'INtTELY " ON THE MAP" •••• • THE EYES Of THE WORLD ARE UPON US!

THOSE DUES.

WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO EMBARRASS ANY OF OUR MEMBERS BUT If YOU RECEIVE WITH THIS ISSU.E A SMALL SLip IT WiLL SIMPLY BE A MATTER Of FORM TO SHOW YOU HOW YOUR ,4CCOUNT RE fEES STANDS UP TO THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 1ST. 1958. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE TO HEAR fROM yoU SO THAT WE MAY KEEP YOU ON OUR MAILING LIST. DON' T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE CASH, YOU CAN PAY A LITTLE AT A TIME IF YOU WISH, To THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ATTENDED OUR MEETINGS LATELY WE WOULD ADVISE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP FEE IS NOW 12.50 PER THREE MONTH PERIOD. THIS CHANGE STARTED OCTOBER 1ST. 1957.

OUOTA TI ON.

SOMEONE HAS ASKED ME fOR THE fULL TEXT CONTAINING THE QUOTATION WHICH APPEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR LETTERHEADS. HERE IT IS: -

ON A LABEL FOUND INSIDE A VIOLIN B E LONGING TO PAU;:ST I NA - TRAI\ISLATED FROM THE LATIN-

"I WHOM THE AXE FROM SYLVAN LIfE DID TRENCHANTLY D IVORCE, WAS DUMB WH ILE LIVING -- BUT, NOW DEAD, AM fULL Of SWEET DISCOURSE".

CONC lUS ION OF " THE WORK OF THE LA TE "DOC" PORTER , n

AFTER MANY YEARS OF' STUDY AND OBSERVATION, IN WHICH TIME HE OPENED UP MANY HIGH QUALITY VIOLINS, MR. PORTER WAS ABLE TO COMPARE THE BASS BARS Of MANY EMINENT MAKERS AND REPAIRERS,BOTH PAST AND PRESENT - ALSO fROM DIFfERENT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THOse: COUNTRIES IN EUROPE. UN-

DOUBTEDLY LEARNING BY THEIR METHODS, BOTH GOOD AND BAD, HE EVOLVED WITH TIME THE fOLLOWING SPEC If ICAT IONS,

THE BASS-BAR TO BE CUT ONLY fROM HIGH-GRADE BELLY-WOOD. THE LENGTH IS fOUND fROM MARKING A PO INT I AND 9/16" fROM THE BOTTOM OF' THE BELLY, AND A fURTHER, POINT I AND 3/4" DOWN fROM THE TOP. THE BAR SHOULD TAPER IN TO THE CENTRE LINE OF' THE BELLY AT THE TOP. THE ACTUAL MEASURE­MENTS BEING 5/8" AT THE TOP AND 3/4" AT THE BOTTOM, THESE MEASUREMENTS ARE fROM THE CENTRE LINE TO THE OUTSIDE OF' THE BAR. THE BAR SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1/4" IN THICKNESS. THE HIGHEST POINTS, TO BE AT THE INNER NICKS Of THE SOUND HOLES, IS 7/16", AT EACH END 1/8'" THICK. AfTER fITTING THE BAR TO THE BELLY, MARK OF'F THE CENTRE Of GRAVITY, WHICH IS fOUND AT 1/4" ABOVE THE BRIDGE LINE. THE BAR SHOULD BE MADE TO BALANCE UPON A KNifE EDGE AT THIS POINT.

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CONCLUSION OF "THE WORK OF THE LATE "DOC" PORTER ( CONTIO )

REGARDING "F" HOLES, MR. PORTER HAS NEVER EXPRESSED ANY THEORY REGARDING THE SIZE, HIS METHOD OF SETTING "F" HOLES IS TO MARK A LINE ACROSS THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THE PURFLING AT THE POINT OF THE LOWER BOUT AND THE INNER BOUT. THIS LINE TO COINCIDE WITH THE TOP OF THE BO TTOM HOLE OF THE "F" HOLE.

THE RIBS WE F"lND TO BE 3/64" THICK, GENERALLY HAViNG THEIR HEIGHT AT THE LOWER END I AND 1/4" AT THE UPPER END AND 3/16".

lINGINS AND CORNER BLOCKS WERE ALWAYS FORMED OUT OF WELL SEASONED BROWN WilLOW, NOT WHITE WILLOW� FOllOWING CLOSELY ONCE AGAIN THE RULE OF STRADIVARIUS,

MR, POR TER' S THEOR Y REGARD I NG SOUND POS TS WERE THA T A WEll REGULA TED F I DOLE, THA T IS CARE­FULLY PROPORTIONED IN ALL ITS VARIOUS THICKNESSES, SHOULD B E THE THICKNESS OF THE BEllY, TO THE REAR OF THE BRIDGE, AND ITS CENTRE LINE BEING COGNISANT WITH THE CENTRE liNE OF THE RIGHT FOOT OF THE BRIDGE,

THESE ARE THE METHODS, MEASUREMENTS, AND SIZES, USED BY MR. PORTER, THOSE MEASUREMENTS WHICH EVERY INDiVIDUAL MAKER T RIES TO EXPERIMENT WITH IN HIS ENDEAVOUR TO PRODUCE SOMETHING A lITTLE DIFFERENT.

AS TO THE OTHER DIMENSIONS OF THE riDDLE, NAMELY SIZE AND lENGTH OF NECK, HEIGHT OF FINGER BOARD, NUT AND SADDLE, MR. PORTER FOllOWED CONVENTION IN THESE.

IN HIS VARN'iSHING, HE USED ONLY OIL VARNISH, SHADING TO TASTE, IN HIS ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE HIS VIOLINS LOOK OLD, AS WELL AS PLAY liKE AN OLD FIDDLE.

RIGHT THROUGH HIS METHOD IS FOUND A BURNING DESIRE TO MAKE AS THE OLD MASTERS DID, WHICH IS GOOD, SOUND, CAST IRbN PRINCIPLE, FOR ALL THOSE, WHO WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PATHWAY, TO ADOPT CONSC IENTIOUSlY. MAKE AS GOOD AS STRAD, THEN EXPERIMENT AFTER. THAT WAS AN OFT REPEATED PHRASE OF MR. POR TER.

ALSO TOO HE STATED WITH FIRM CONViCTION THAT ANYONE USING GOOD VIOLIN WOOD, AND FOLLOWING THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS, WOULD MAKE A GOOD VIOLIN, • • • SUCCESS TO THOSE WHO WOULD ASPIRE, COULD THEY TOO HAVE STOOD AND WATCHED, IN SILENCE, THIS NOW REMOVED GENIUS, GENTLY RUN HIS FINGERNAilS ACROSS, A ROUGH BLOCK, YET TO BE A BACK OR FRONT OF A VIOLiN, AND OBSERVE HIM LISTEN, LISTEN TO WHAT? THE WHISPER OF THE AGES, OR THE VOICE OF GOOS MAYBE. SUCH IS GENIUS, WHERE DOES THAT lITTLE EXTRA COME FROM? DOES THE GENIUS KNOW HIMSELF, IF HE DID COULD HE PASS IT ON?

IN HIS WORDS, FOLLOW THE PRINC IPLES lAID DOWN ABOVE, AND YOU WILL MAKE A GOOD VIOLIN.

PERHApS HIS SINGLENESS OF PURPOSE, HIS BURNING DESIRE TO EMULATE THE GREAT ONES, BROUGHT HIM THE REWARD OF THE GODS.

MAY IT BE OURS. • ... FLOYD HOLLY.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DEAR EDITOR:

HAVE MISSED THE FACES OF SEVERAL OF OUR CHOICE MEMBERS AT OUR MEETINGS OF LATE.

AM WONDERING IF THE INCREASE OF OUR FEEG IS THE CAUSE. ONLY A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS I"ER ANNUM MEANS A LOT TO SEVERAL OF US (OLD-AGE PENSIONERS ) AND PERHAPS OTHERS WHO MAY NOT BE FOR-TUNA TED ENOUGH TO HAVE A YEAR ROUND JOB. ALSO SOME OF US WOULD LIKE T O BE ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME GOOD VlOOD AND TRY OUR HAND AT MAKING A REAL GOOD FIDDLE, BUT THE LACK OF FINANCES HINDERS US.

PERHAPS 'WE SHOULD TALK I T OVER AT OUR NEXT MEETING. S I G NED " E. R • WR I GH T"

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DON WH I TE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • No. 5, • • • • • • • • • •• • • ••• • ,VANCOUVER, B.C •• , • • •• • • • •• • • • • • •••• • • • • • • • • • • • MARCH,.

1958

ANNIVERSARY NUMBER

THE JOURNAL TAKES GREAT PLEASURE IN CONGRATULATING THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ON THE EVENT OF ITS F'IRST BIRTHDAY.

THE ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED ON MARCH 21ST, JUST ONE YEAR AGO. SINCE THAT DAY IT HAS DEVELOPED INTO A nEAL LIVE ORGANIZATION STRETCHING ITS ACTIVITIES INTO MANY PARTS OF' NORTH AMERICA AND ENGLAND.

MAY THE COMING YEAR SHOW A STILL FURTHER CONTINUING OF THIS GROWTH •

. . . . . . . . . . . .

OUR NEXT MEETING:

MAY WE R EMIND OUR MEMBERSHIP THAT WE WILL HOLD oun ANNUAL MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13TH. AT 8 O'CLOCK SHARP. THIS MEETING WILL INCLUDE THE REPORTS OF YO.UR EXECUTIVE AND THE ELECTION OF' OFF'ICERS FOR THE COM ING YEAR.

IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY MEMBER TO ATTEND SO THAT THE OFF'lCERS ELECTED WilL BE TO THE SATIS-FACTION OF ·ALL CONCERNED. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MATTER AND ONE THAT MAY DECIDE THE SMOOTH RUNNING or OUR SOCIETY.

OUT-OF-TPWN I NQUIRIES.

WE ARE STILL CONTINUiNG TO RECEIVE NUMEROUS INQUIRIES FROM BOTH CANADA AND THE U.S,A., FROM INDI\iIDUAlS ASKING FOR PARTICULARS or OUR'ASSOCIATION, MANY OF THEM WISHING TO OBTAIN MEMBERSHIP. To THESE GOOD PEOPLE WE WOULD SAY THAT OWING TO THE l.OCAL CHARACTER OF OUR SOCIETY WE FEEL THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO GIVE YOU FULL VALUE FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

WE VlOULD BE GLAD, HOWEVER, TO MAIL YOU THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL EACH MONTH AT THE SMALL COST OF $1,50 PER YEAR, THIS ONLY JUST MEETS PRODUCTION COSTS. You WOULD BE KEPT POSTEO ON OUR ACTIVITIES AND UP-TO-DATE ON ANY INFORMATION WE MAY ACCUMULATE.

THE 1958 P.N.E, HOBBY SHOW

AT OUR LAST MEETING IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD AGAIN ENTER A BOOTH EXHIBIT AT THE PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION HOSBY SHOW. THIS DECISION WAS ASSISTED BY THE FACT THAT OUR ENTRY LAST YEAR WON THE BRONZE MEDAL. THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOBBY SHOW INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS THE LARGEST HOBBY SHOW I N THE WORLD OF A COM PLE TEL Y AMA TEUR CHARAC TER.

A COMMITTEE OF FIVE MEMBERS WAS SELECTED TO COMMENCE ARRANGEMENTS IMMEDIATELY F'OR THIS PRO-JECT. NAMES OF THOSE CHOSEN FOR THIS COMMITTEE ARE AS FOLLOWS: _

MRS, MAR THA KOZAK MR, HELIN

MR. C. HEYv/OR TH MR, F, HOLLY - AND DON WHITE.

YOUR SECRETARY HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL INQUIRIES FROM VIOLIN MAKERS AS FAR AWAY AS TORONTO WHO WISH TO SEND INSTRUMENTS TO THE HOBBY SHOW. VIE HOPE TO 6E ABLE TO GIVE THESE INQUIRIES FULL IN-FORMATION NEXT MONTH.

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SET YOUR GOAL HIGHER THAN YOU C AN REACH:

THEN REACH IT t 1 ( GLEN STEWART ) .

VI OLIN MAKERS ASSOCIATION OF B RITISH COLUMB IA

BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT AS OF MARCH 6TH� 1958,

RECE I PTS: EX PEND I TURE:

MEMBERSH I P FEES RENT RECEIVED FROM HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE SALE OF CAROL BOOKS

$140,00 5,82

.80 4,50

SUPPLIES FOR JOURNAL POS TAGE

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO JOURNAL FLORAL TRIBUTES AND DONATIONS STATIONERY Ex PENSES XMAS PAR TV MEMBERSH I P TO ENGL ISH

VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSN.

BANK BALANCE CASH ON HAND

THE ABOVE SUBJECT TO CORRECTION BY AUDITOR.

EXECUTIVE AND HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE MEET

$ 9,00 22,75

8.39 12,05

30,76 4.12

2,60 89,67 45,00 16,45

$ 151,12

A COMBINED EXECUTIVE MEETING AND HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE MEETING WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 27TH AT THE HOME OF DON WH I TE,

THE EXECUTIVE TALKED OVER SOME IMPORTANT MATTERS WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THE PROPER TIME,

THEY WERE ALL OF THE OPINIO�! THAT OUR SOC IETY WAS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS,

THE HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE GOT OFF AT A GOOD START AND ARE PLANNING A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN THE GENERAL SET-UP. THESE CHANGES W ILL BE PRESENTED TO TH[ MEMBERSH I P JUS T AS SOON AS THEY HAVE SIFTED THROUGH SetAE OF THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE YET TO OBTAIN,

THAT "ITALIAN TONE" AGAIN - BY DON WHITE

MANY HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION " WHAT IS IrALIAN TONE"? AND EXPERT MAKERS HAVE ENDEAVORED TO ANSWER TH IS QUERY, SOMET IMES I N A VERY ELUS IVE MANNER, THEY SUGGES T THA T IT IS A 5 TRONG MELLOW TONE OF ETHEREAL QUAL I TY.

IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE, FAIRLY GOOD VIOLINIST TO DEMONSTRATE THIS TINE HE IS UNABLE TO 00 SO, EVEN ON AN OLD MASTER'S INSTRUMENT. THE VIRTUOSO, HOWEVER, WILL PRODUCE ITALIAN TONE ALWAYS, BUT THE TONE OF HEIFETZ WILL BE DIFFERENT TO MENUHIN, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE TO TAKE TURNS PLAYING ON THE SAME INSTRUMENT,

I TALIAN TONE THEN IS PRODUCED NOT SO MUCH BY THE VIOLIN AS BY THE ARTIST IN COMMAND, THE DUTY OF THE VIOLIN IS TO SO INSPIRE THE ARTIST THAT HE WILL PRODUCE THAT TONE WHICH OVERWHELMS THE EMOTIONS AND IS THE ENVY OF THE VERY ANGELS THEMSELVES,

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THAT "ITALIAN TONE" AGAIN (CONTID)

IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT MOST MAKERS ARE APPROACHING THE PROBLEM IN A COMPLETELY INCORRECT MANNER. THEY ARE CONTINUALl.Y SEEKING STRONG TONE WHICH, TO USE THEIR EXPRESSION HAS "BODY" TO IT INSTEAO Of SEEKING fOR THAT QUALITY, WHICH THE OLD MASTERS HAD, Of GIVING THE VIOLIN A "SOUl." WHICH IN TURN INSPIRES THE ARTIST TO PRODUCE THAT SINGING TONE WHICH CAPTIVATES HIS AUDIENCE.

THE ABOVE BECAME APPARENT TO ME AfTER LISTENING TO ALfREDO CAMPOLI DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO OUR CITY.

ONE RECEIVED THE IMPRESSION THAT HIS STRAD WAS NOT A "STRONG" TONED INSTRUMENT, fOR HIS PIANIST CONSTANTLY DROWNED HIM OUT (AN UNPARDONABLE SIN). HOWEVER ONE SOON REALIZED THAT THOUGH CAMPOLI IS A GREAT MUSICI/\N, HIS BEAUTIfUL STRADIVARIUS WAG THE: REAl. INSPIRATION Of HIS MAGNI-f lCANT PERfORMANCE. IT INSPIRED HIM TO PRODUCE NOT ONLY TRUE ITALIAN TONE BUT, WHICH IS Al.MOST MORE IMPORTANT, IT INSPIRED THE DEl.ICATE PHRASING AND THE DEl.IGHTfUL INTERPRETATION WHICH RE­SULTED IN A PERfECT R ENDITION.

IT IS OUR DUTY AS VIOl.IN MAKERS TO PLACE IN THE HANDS Of THE ARTIST AN INSTRUMENT WHICH WILL PERfORM THIS MIRACLE Of INSPIRATION.

"AN I NSTRUMENT Of BEAUTY I S A JOY fOREVER •• • ••

ITS LOVELINESS INCREASES; IT WILL NEVER PASS INTO NOTHINGNESS."

(WITH APOLOGIES TO KEATS)

DENS I TV OF WOODS

THE DENSITY Of A PIECE Of WOOD HAS A DIRECT RELATION TO ITS HARDNESS AND THESE TWO CHARAC­TERISTICS ARE DIRECTLY RELATIVE TO ITS WEIGHT.

THE SCIENTifiC PROCEDURE THEN IN THE SELECTION Of ANY WOOD TO BE USED fOR VIOLIN MAKING WOULD BE TO WEIGH THE WOOD WE EXPECT TO USE fOR THE PLATES.

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY AIRED IN A RECENT ISSUE Of "THE LUTHERI" A PUBLICATION PUT OUT BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS ASSOCIATION Of HUDDERSfIELD, ENGLAND. I TAKE THE LIBERTY Of QUOT-ING AS fOLl.Ole/S:

"THE SELECTION Of TWO PIECES Of WOOD, ONE FOR THE TOP Of PINE, AND ONE OF MAPLE, WHICH WILL PRODUCE THE BEST ACCOUSTIC COMBINATION IS THE HARDEST PROBLEM CONF"RONTING THE LUTHIER. MANY WRITERS NAflRATE WONDERFUL STORIES OF" THE MYSTIC INSIGHT or THE OLD MASTERS INTO THIS PRO­BLEM,' AND ONLY RECENTLY THE AUTHOR READ A SUGGESTION THAT SELECTION IS INTUITIVE AND INCAPABLE OF" BEING GUIDED BY INSTRUMENTS OR MEASUREMENTS,

ONE METHOD IS TO MAKE SEVERAL IDENTICAL CUBES OF" PINE AND Of MAPLE AND CAREFULLY WEIGH THEM. THIS WILL GIVE THE COMPARf,TIVE DENSITY Of THE TWO WOODS, GOOD RESULTS WERE OBTAINED WHEN THE RATIO Of WEIGHTS WAS 3 TO 4f.,OR 3 TO 4.5, THE TWO CUBES OF WOOD MUST BE MADE AS NEARLY IDENTICAL AS POSSIBLE BY USING A MICROMETER AND WEIGHING ACCURATELY."

A VERY S ENSITIVE SCALE WOULD HAVE TO 8E USED. THE INfORMATION THUS OBTAINt:D WOULD ALSO BE INVALUABLE IN ARRIVING AT THE CORRECT GRADUATION OF EACH PLATE, fOR GRADUATION IS GOVERNED BY THE HARDNESS OF THE MATERIAL BEING USED.

A METHOD USED BY SOME MAKERS, AND POSSIBLY THE ONE USED BY STRAD, IS TO ALWAYS HAVE lH LEAST t1VE PLATES Of EACH VlOOD ON HAND. THE MAKER THEN SELECTS THOSE WHICH HE CONS IDERS, BY LONG EXPERIENCE, TO BE THE BEST SUITED TO EACH OTHER, THERE APPEARS TO BE' NO REASON WHY THESE PI.ATES COULD NOT BE WEIGHED AND SELECTION MADE ACCORDING TO THE RATIO GIVEN ABOVE VIZ: 3 TO 4 OR 3 TO 4.5. ONE IS ALMOST INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT BY WEIGHING THE LARGER PIECES OF" THIS NATURE A MORE ACCURATE DECISION WOULD BE REACHED, THAN BY USING CUBES WHICH CAN VARY CONSIDER­ABLE, EVEN SHOULD ONE BE JUST A SHAVING LESS IN SIZE THAN ANOTHER,

- 5 - 3

DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERSi ASSOCIATION Of BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I .• � ••• NO. 6 •• • • ••• � ••• • • • • • • • • VANCOUVER, B�C • • • • • • • • • • • •••• • •• • • •• • • • • • • • •• APRJL, 1958

IMPORTANT N OTICE

UNTIL fURTHER NOTICE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE HILLCREST C.C.f.

HALL, 4360 MAIN STREET. NEXT MEETING APRIL 10TH AT 8 P.M. SHARP.

OUR NEW COVER.

THE ATTRACTIVE NEW COVER fOR THE JOURNAL HAS BEEN MADE POSS ISLE BY THE GENEROS I TY Of THE fiRMS WHOSE ADVERTISEMENTS APPEAR ON THE BACK PAGE. READERS ARE URGED TO RETURN THE COMPLIMENT BY SUPPORTING THESE fiRMS WHENEVER pass IBLE.

. ... ... .

NEW COLUMN:

A NEW COLUMN APPEARS IN THIS ISSUE ENTITLEO "CHIPS fROM THE CHISEL". THIS IS YOUR COLUMN AND WILL ONLY CONTINUE AS LONG AS MEMBERS SEND IN "How I DO IT" IDEAS. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY HINTS ON THE TECHNIQUE OF' ANY PROBLEM RELATED TO VIOLIN BUILDING SEND THEM IN TO THE EDITOR. SOME: SIMPLE HINT WILL OF'TEN AID THE BEGINNER OR EVEN THE ADVANCED MAKER. THIS IS YOUR PAPER, DO YOUR PART TO KEEP IT ALIVE.

A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS

ITS WEAKEST LINK • • • •••••

OUR NEXT MEETING PLACE.

IT IS WITH SOME REGRET THAT WE ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF' OUR NEW MEETING PLACE. MOST OF' us ARE ACQUAINTED WITH THE WONDERfUL WORK BEING DONE BY THE REV. GEO. WRIGHT AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE Of HIS DESTRICT. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE NOW REQUIRE THE RECREATION ROOM AND WE WOULD SE THE LAST TO HAMPER THEIR ACTIVITIES.

ON LEAVING WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS TO MR. WRIGHT fOR HIS HospiTALITY TO US DURING THE LAST YEAR. WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE POSITION Of OUR NEW HALL WiLL ALLOW MR. WRIGHT TO CONTINUE HIS ATTENDANCE WITH US AND WE WILL LONG REMEMBER THE MANY HAPPY EVENINGS SPENT IN THE "OLD RECREATION ROOM".

"CHIFS fROM THE C HISE L".

VlHA T NEX n � ! !

MR. S, KUJAIVA -OF ST. PAUL, MINN., U .S.A. SENDS US PARTICULARS Of A CARVING MACHINE WHICH WILL CARV� ANYTHrNG F'OR WHICH YOU HAVE A PATTERN, SUCH AS VIOLIN PLATES AND SCROLLS. IT WILL ALSO CLEAN OUT THE INS IDE Of Pl.ATES. You CAN CARVE BOOK-ENDS, ANIMALS, GUN STOCKS, fANCY CHA IR-LEGS ETC. THE ONLY DRAW-BACK F'OR THE AVERAGE IND Iv IDUAL IS THE PR ICE .... ABOUT $800.00 f.O.B., VANCOUVER.

I - 6 - 1

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'11000 SCRA PERS

ONE OF THE HANDIEST AND MOST USEFUL TOOLS I HAVE IS A SKARSTEN WOOD SCRAPER. IT CAN BE BOUGHT FOR AROUND $4.00 AT ANY DEPARTMENT STORE. SPARE BLADES ABOUT THREE INCHES WIDE COST 15¢ EACH, BUT ONL Y BUY THE SAW-TOOTH BLADE. 'II I TH TH IS YOU CAN TAKE DOWN THE PLA TES FROM THE ROUGH RIGHT DOWN ALMOST TO THE COMPLETE FORM, I'T IS ALSO GOOD F"OR ROUGHING OUT THE INSIDE OF" THE PLATES. You CAN GET SMALL ONES ABOUT AN INCH WIDE WHICH ARE HANDY F"OR CURVES WHERE YOU CAN'T USE THE LARGE SIZE. You CANNOT GET SAW-TOOTH BLADES F"OR THE SMALL SIZE BUT YOU CAN CUT THE lARGE SIZE BLADES TO F" I T I'll TH A HACK SAW,

MAK I NG V I OL I N RI BS BY HA ND By FLO YO HOLLY

DON WH I TE

TAKE THE WAS TE SLAB F"ROM A WHOLE PIECE BACK AND CUT INTO 1-3/8 INCH S TR IPS. PLANE BOTH SIDES SMOOTH AND THE SAME TIME MAKE THEM PARALLEL. TAKING A CARPENTER'S MARKING GAUGE DRAW A LINE 1/16 INCH FROM BOTH SIDES AND ACROSS THE END WITH A SHARP PENCIL, MARK IN THE SCRATCH LINE DISTINCTLY, Now PLACE ONE OF" THE STRips IN A VICE INCLINING FROM YOU AT AN ANGLE APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES SO THAT .THE LINE DOWN THE SIDE AND ACROSS THE END APPEARS A STRAIGHT LINE, TAKE A SHARP RIP SAW AND START 'TO CUT CAREFULLY FROM THE TOP POINT UNTIL THE TEETH OF" THE SAW REACH DOWN TO THE LOWER CORNER, THE SAW BEING KEPT LEVEL. Now TURN THE STRIP OF WOOD AROUND ON THE VICE, BUT PLACE IT VERTICALLY,' THE SAW CUT WILL SLOPE AWAY F"ROM YOU, PLACE THE SAW IN THE CUT AND SLOWLY START THE SAW AGAIN, DEPRESSING THE SAW AS YOU GO UNTIL THE SAW IS AGAIN LEVE, REPEAT THE OPERATION UNTIL YOU'HAVE SAWN THE COMPLETE LENGTH OF" THE STRIP, IN THIS MANNER THE CUT IS CONTROLLED AT ALL TIMES, CUTTING ONLY THE EDGE WHICH YOU ARE OBSERVING,

You NOW HAVE F"OUR OR MORE STRIPS 1/16TH OF AN INCH TH ICK, ROUGHLY, BY I AND 3/8TH ... SMOOTH ON ONE SIDE,

Now PREPARE A LENGTH OF 2 X 4, 20 INCHES LONG, BY MAKING IT PERFECTLY SMOOTH AND STRAIGHT, INSERT A PIECE OF HARD-WOOD CROSS-WISE AT ONE END TO ACT AS A STOP WHICH WILL PROJECT ABOVE THE SURF"ACE NO MORE THAN J/16TH INCH,

Now RUB THIS SURFACE OF" THE PLANING BOARD THOROUGHLY WITH WHITE CHALK, Do THE SAME WITH THE SMOOTH SIDE OF" YOUR STRIPS, PLACE THE TWO CHALK SURF"ACES TOGETHER AND IT WILL BE FOUND THAT THE FRICTION OF THE TWO CHALKED SURFACED SIDES WILL RESIST THE FORCE OF A SHARP PLANE, IT IS NOT EVEN NECESSARY TO USE THE STOP UNLESS ONE SO DESIRES, AS THE FRICTION SET UP IS SO STRONG.

AF"TER PLANING DOWN TO THE GAUGE LINE THE STRIP IS NOW READY FOR SCRAPING AND SANDING,WHICH SHOULD REDUCE THE S TR I P TO AN EVEN TH ICKNESS OF 3/64TH OF AN INCH,

PROGRAM F O R OUR NEXT MEET ING

A SPECIAL TREAT IS IN STORE FOR uS AT THE APRIL 10TH MEETING. DR, CARL CRAMER, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF" B , C" WILL LECTURE ON ·ACCOUSTICS AND VIBRATIONS.

DR. CRAMER DOES NOT HANDLE THESE SUBJECTS AT THE UNIVERSITY BUT HAS INVESTIGATED ACCOUSTICS AND HI-FIDELITY PROBLEMS F"OR QUITE SOME TIME AS A SERIOUS HOBBY, HE HAS ALSO STUDIED THE VIOLIN AND KNOWS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING US. WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO DR, CRAMER'S TALK AND A LARGE ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED.

REME M BE R T HE NEW MEE T I NG PLA CE H ILLCRES T HALL, 4360 MA I N STREET ,

I MP OSS I BLE IS A WORD TO BE FOUND O NL Y I N THE DICTIONARY OF FOOLS . . . . . . .

I - 6 - 2

- 3 -

MORE ON TONE (ITALIA� AND OTHERWISE) - BY DON WHITE

IN THE ARTICLE ON ITALIAN TONE LAST MONTH, I ENDEAVORED TO IMPRESS UPON VIOLIN MAKERS THE DESIRABILITY OF' PLACING IN THE HANDS OF' THE: ARTIST AN INSTRUMENT THAT POSSESSES NOT SO MUCH TONAL VALUE AS THAT ELUSiVe: "SOMETHING" THAT INSPIRES THE VIOLINIST TO DRAW OUT F'ROM THE IN­STRUMENT THAT, PERHAPS, HIDDEN QUALITY POSSESSED BY THE VIOLIN.

IT MIGHT BE WELL F'OR THE MAKER IN SEARCHING F'OR THIS ELUSIVE ELEMENT TO KNOW SOMETHING OF' THE QUALITIES THAT THE ARTIST L OOKS F'OR IN His QUEST rOR A PERF'ECT VIOLIN. ALSO IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT HE HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE TECHNIQUE THAT THE ARTIST EMPLOYS IN PRODUCING HIS TONE,

THE STATEMENT I MADE THAT HEIF'ETZ AND MENUHIN BOTH PRODUCE TONE THAT STIRS THE EMOTIONS TO THE UTTERMOStl BUT THAT BOTH OF' THESE VIRTUOSOS DO SO WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TONE MIGHT BE ENLARGED UPON.

SuPPOSe: niAT SIX OF THE WORLD'S LEADING VIOLINISTS WERE TO STANO BEHIND A CURTAIN AND PLAY WITH tQUAL F'ORTtSSIMO ON THE OPEN STRINGS, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH ONE F'ROM THE OTHER, IN FACT AN AMATEUR COULD COMPETE VERY FAVI'IRABLY WITH THEM. LET THEM LEAVE THE OPEN

STRINGS AND IMMEDIATELY WE DISTINGUISH ONE FROM THE OTHER, MANY GOOD VIOLINISTS ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS PHENOMENA, WHICH IS REALLY QUITE SIMPLE WHEN WE ADMIT THE FACT THAT TONE COMES ALMOST COMPLETELY FROM THE LEfT HAND.

TO ADVANCE THIS ARGUMENT LET US INVESTIGATE THE LEf'T HAND IN RELATION TO TONE PRODUCTION.

WITH THE LEF'T HAND THE ARTIST HAS TWO MEDIUMS WHICH HE EMPLOYS, BOTH OF WHICH, IN COMBINATION,

RESULT IN THE BEAUTIF'UL AND SONOROUS TONE • • FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT IS HIS VIBRATO, AND SECONDLY HIS PORTAMENTO.

LET ME, BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER, AND, LEAST THE READER IMAGINES THAT I CONSIDER THE BOW

AND BOW-HAND OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE, CLEAR THIS MATTER UP. WITHOUT COMPLETE CONTROL Of HIS BOW, niE VIOLINIST WOULD BE UNABLE TO CO-ORDINATE WITH lliE ALL IMPORTANT LEFT HAND. HE WOULD DE HAMPERED IN HIS SUBTLE SHADING AND PHRASING. HIS NOTES WOULD LOSE THAT NEAT CLEAR-CUT QUALITY AND SPICCATO WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. BUT THE TONE WOULD STILL BE PRODUCED BY THE ViBRATO AND PORTAMENTO.

LET US EXAMINE THE VIBRATO AND THE METHOD OF ITS PRODUCTION. VIBRATO IS A CONSCIOUS AND DELIBERATE ROCKING MOVEMENT OF' THE F'INGER, ( OR IN CHORDS, THE FINGERS ) AND WRIST OF" THE LEfT

HAND ON THE F'INGER-BOARD. THIS OSCILLATING MOVEMENT HAS THE EF'FECT Of RAISING THE NOTE BEING PLAYED SLIGHTLY ABOVE TRUE PITCH, AND AT THE OTHER END OF THE ROCK, OF LOWERING IT SLIGHTLY BELOW TRUE PI TCH. THE SOUND THUS PRODUCED IS SOMEWHA T S 1M ILAR TO THE HUMAN VO ICE WH ICH, IN GOOD SINGERS, NEVER REMAINS STEADY.

ON THE ORGAN THE EfF'ECT IS OBTAINED BY PULLING OUT THE VOX HUMANICA STOP. IN MANY ELECTRIC

ORGANS THIS VOX HUMANICA IS LEfT OUT CONTINUOUSLY AND VERY SOON BECOMES IRRITATING TO THE NERVES. TH IS IS BECAUSE THE RISE AND F'ALL fROM TRUE PI TCH IS CONTINUOUSLY THE SAME EXAC T DEV IA TION fROM

TRUE PITCH, WHEREAS THE VIOLINIST CAN QUICKEN OR SLOW DOVIN HIS VIBRATO, OR GIVE A LONGER OR SHORTER ROCK, OR LEAVE IT OF'F ALTOGETHER. A"LL THIS IS GOVERNED BY filS EMOTIONS.

NOT ONLY DOES THE VIBRATO GIVE THIS HUMAN VOice: QUALITY TO THE VIOLIN BUT IT INCREASES ITS CARRYING POWER. THE BUILDERS OF' POLICE AND OTHER SIRENS SOON DISCOVERED THIS AND EMPLOY lliE OSCILLATING SOUND OR WAIL TO INCREASE CARRYING POWER,

NO T WO VIOLINISTS HAVE THE SAME VIBRATO, IT IS GOVERNED COMPLETELY BY THEIR EMOTIONAL MAKE-UP. You CAN NOVI READILY SEE WHY THE TO.NE OF MENUHIN AND HEifETZ DIF'fER. WHAT HAS ALL THIS TO 00 WITH VIOLIN-MAKERS? SIMPLY THIS, THAT SOME ViOLINS ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO A BRILLIANT VIBRATO - THEY HAVE THAT "SOUL" THAT QUICKENS THE EMOTION Of THE PLAYER.

YOU MAY HAVE A VIOLIN THAT YOU ARE DISCOURAGED WrrH. GET A REAL GOOD VIOLINIST TO TRY IT

••• HE MAY DISCOVER HIDDEN QUALITIES IN THAT INSTRUMENT THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED Of.

I WILL ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER IMPORTANT MEDIUM -- THE PORTAMENTO--IN OUR NEXT ISSUE, A NO POSS I BL Y ENLARGE ON THE TECHN I QUE Of THE V I BRA TO.

I - 6 - 3

- 4 -THE ANNUAL MEE T I NG:

OUR FIRST ANNUAL MEETING HELD MARCH 13TH SAW SEVERAL CHANGES IN THE GENERAL SET-UP OF OUR

ORGANIZATION. THERE WERE TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION - AN AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A

SEPARATE SECRETARY AND TREASURER WAS ACCEPTED BY THE MEMBERSH I p.

OFFICERS ELECTED FOR THE COMING YEAR WERE: - PRESIDENT

V I CE- PRES I DENT

SECRETAR Y

TREASURER

GEORGE FR lESS

GILSON HEYWORTH

DON WHITE

FLO YO HOLLY

THE ABOVE WILL NOW FORM THt EXECUTIVE. THE REV. GEO, WRIGHT WHO RETIRES AS VICE-PRESIDENT

WILL BE MISSED AT THE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS. HIS FAITHFULNESS 'to THE ASSOCIATION AND KEEN ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS WAS ALWAYS IN PROMINENCE.

MR. FRIESS GAVE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PRESIDENTIAL REPORT. HE STRESSED THE GROWTH OF OUR

ASSOCIATION AND MENTIONED SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH MIGHT INFLUENCE ITS FUTURE CHARACTER.

THE SECRETARY-TREASURER'S REPORT GIVEN BY DON WHITE SHOIVED A HEALTHY FINANCIAL STATE. HE

POINTED OUT THAT CORRESPONDENCE SHOWED THAT OUR ASSOCIATION WAS NOW RECEIVING NATION-WIOE ATTENTION.

A ST RONG ARGUMENT FOR H ERED I TY:

IF YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER HAD NO CHILDREN

IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT YOUR CHILDREN WILL EVER BECOME PARENTSt�

PLAN NOIV FOR THE HOBBY SHOW

THIS BEING OUR PROVINCE'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO COMPLY IN SOME FORM WITH THE SPIRIT OF THIS OCCASION IN OUR DISPLAY AT THE HOBBY SHOW. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT

MEMBERS EACH BUILD OR SECURE SOME KIND OF OLD-FASHIONED OR UNIQUE BOW INSTRUMENT. SEVERAL ARE ALREADY ENGAGED UPON SOME SUCH PROJECT, PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAP, MEMBERS, AND SEE WHAT YOU

CAN DO, THESE INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT COMPETE IN THE REGULAR CLASSES BUT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDALS IN A CLASS YET TO BE ARRANGED,

IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT EACH MEMBER WILL DISPLAY AT LEAST ONE STRING INSTRUMENT FOR THE

REGULAR CLASSES. You WILL COMPETE THIS YEAR WITH VIOLINS FROM OTHER PARTS OF CANADA AND SEVERAL FROM THE U,S.A. WE HOPE THAT WITHIN A FEW YEARS OUR COMPETITION WILL BECOME THE FOREMOST

VIOLIN EXHIBITION IN NORTH AMERICA • • ••• "THE GIANT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW."

THE HOBBY SHOW COMMITTEE REGRET THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GIVE ANY DEFINITE ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO RULES FOR THIS YEAR'S SHOW AT THIS TIME. WE HAD HOPED TO OUTLINE OUR PLANS IN THIS ISSUE BUT MANY FACTORS HAVE YET TO BE CONSIDERED. WE SUGGEST THAT OUT-OF-TOWN SUBSCRIBERS KEEP IN

TOUCH WITH OUR SECRETARY WHO WILL BE ONLY TOO GLAD TO GIVE ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION.

WE CAN, HOWEVER, MENTION SOME OF THE CHANGES WE HOPE TO INAUGURATE. WE FEEL THAT THE RES-

PONS IBILITY OF JUDGING IS TOO GREAT FOR ONE PERSON AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF ADVISING THREE JUDGES - ALSO A SYSTEM OF JUDGING BY THE POINT SYSTEM IS BEING STUDIED.

HOBBY SHOW RULES NOW STATE THAT EXHIBITS SHOWN LAST YEAR CANNOT BE EXHIBITED AGAIN THIS

YEAR. WE FEEL THAT VIOLINS CAN CHANGE COMPLETELY IN TONAL VALUE IN ONE YEAR AND THAT THEREFORE THIS RULE SHOULD NOT APPLY.

To ENCOURAGE EXHIBITS FROM OTHER PROVINCES AND ALSO FROM THE U.S.A., WE HOPE TO ANNOUNCE

THAT EXPRESS CHARGES AND INSURANCE WILL BE PAID BOTH WAYS. THESE INSTRUMENTS WOULD BE SHOWN

IN CONNECTION WITH OUR OWN EXHIBIT AND WILL COMPETE AGAINST US. WE HAVE ASKED FOR AT LE AST

TWICE THE SPACE FOR OUR EXHIBIT THIS SUMMER AND HOPE THAT ALL MEMBERS WILL 00 THEIR PART TO MAKE THE EXH I BIT AN OUTS TAND I NG ONE.

YOUR SECRETARY RECEIVED A VERY INTERESTING L ETTER F ROM MR. JOSEPH REED, WHO WRDTE THE BOOK

"You T oo CAN MAKE A STRAD". THIS WAS IN ANSWER TO A LETTER WRITTEN TO MR. REED AS A MEANS OF

CONTACT. THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING POINTS TO HIS LETTER THAT WE HOPE TO PUBLISH IT IN A

CONDENSED FORM NEXT MONTH. I - 6 - 4

DON WH I TE, ED I TOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS ' JOURNAL

PUBLIS HED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS· ASSOCIA T I ON Of BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • • • • NO. 7 •••••••• •••• •• • • • • VANCOUVERj B,C • • • • • • •• • ••••••••• • •••• • • • •••••• MAY 1958.

EDITOR I AL .

WE HAVE R ECE IVED MANY COMPL IMENTS ON THE "NEW LOOK" DISPLAYED BY THE NEW COVER Of' THE JOURNAL. WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW IS, WHAT LIES BETWEEN THOSE TWO COVERS. THE TIME 15 f'AST APPROACHING WHEN WE MUST INVITE OUTSIDE WRITERS TO PRESENT THEIR VIEWS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.

THERE IS REASON TO SUGGEST THAT THE JOURNAL COULD BE AS ENTERTAINING ANO INSTRUCTIVE TO MAKERS AND VIOLINISTS ALIKEj AS ANY PUBLICATION NOW ON THE MARKET. THE LIMITS BEING TIME SPENT ANt) COST Of' PRODUCTION.

SUGGESTIONS ALONG THIS LINE Of' IMPR OVEMENT WOULD BE WELCOMED BY THE EDITOR.

WE WISH TO THANK THOSE MEMBERS WHO SO KINDLY HELPEO IN PUBLISHING THE LAST ISSUE. SICK-NESS IN THE f'AMILY HAD SOMEWHAT CURTAILED THE EDITOR'S TIME AND THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED VIAS MUCH APPRECIATED. WE HOPE TO CALL ON SOME MEMBERS EACH MONTH FROM NOW ON SO THAT ALL MAY TAKE A HAND IN ITS PUBLICATION.

. . . .. .. . DR. CARL F. CRAMER SPEAKS ON V I BRATIONS A ND ACOUSTICS .

THE LECTURE BY DR. CRAMER AT OUR LAST MEETING PRESENTED THE MEMBERS WITH A BROADER OUT-LOOK ON THE SUBJECT Of' TONE PRODUCTION OF' SYMPHONIES AND OTHER MUSIC. THE PRESENTATION OF' THE MET HODS AND PROBLEMS OF OTHER HOBBISTS IN THE MUSIC .IELD TAKES US AWAY F'ROM OUR IMMEDIATE NARROW OCCUPATION AND GIVES US A MUCH BROADER PICTURE.

DR. CRAMER, WHO IS A HI-FI F'AN, DWELT AT LENGTH ON THE CONSTRUCTION Of HI-FI SPEAKER­BOXES AND THE INfORMATION· HE GAVE US ON THE DIRECTION OF SOUND WAilES AND HOW THEY MUST B E "PUSHED" OUT T O THE L IS TENER AND NOT BE ALLOWED T O BECOME LOS T OR ABSORBED I N OTHER DIRECT IONS WAS APPLICABLE TO OUR PROBLEM OF PROJECTING THE SOUND OF' A VIOLIN OUT THROUGH THE F F HOLES TO THE LISTENING AUDIENCE.

THE SPEAKER ALSO DESCRIBED THE CONSTRUCTION Of A SINGLE NOTE Of MUSIC AND HOW IT IS BUILT UP AND SUPPORTED BY OVERTONES. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING AS THE THEORY Of DR. SAUNDERS, OF" THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, IS THAT A GOOD VIOLIN HAS CERTAIN NOTES THAT HAVE WHAT HE CALLS OVERTONE PEAKS. IF" THESE STRONG NOTES ARE CORRECTLY PLACED THE OVERTONES STRENGTHEN THE OCnVE LOWER AND HIGHER, PRODUCING STRONG G AND E STRING NOTES

DR. CRAMER ALSO DESCRIBED THE PERFECT AUDITORIUM, WHICH WOULD BE PARABOLA OR EGG SHAPE. WORKING ON THIS THEORY MODERN AUDITORIUMS ARE BUILT, THE STAGE SHAPED LIKE THE INSIDE OF' AN EGG ( THE BLUNT END ) AND THE CEILING AND REAR F'OLLOWING THE LINE OF" A PARABOLA AS CLOSE AS POSS IBLE.

THE LARGE NUMBER OF qUESTIONS SUBMIT TED DISPLAYED THE INTEREST OF' THE AUDIENCE WHICH WAS RATHER DISAPPOINT IN N��BER.

WE WISH TO THANK DR. CRAMER F'OR HIS INSTRUCTIVE TALK AND ALSO MISS SHEENA GRANT OF THE U.B.C. STArr WHO TOOK SUCH AN INTEREST IN OUR CLUB AS TO SPEND SEVERAL DAyS IN SEARCH Of A SPEAKER F"OR US - SHE COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER •

. . . . . . .

I - 7 - I

- 2 -

"CH I PS FROM THE CH ISEL"

TREATMENT FOR VIOLIN TOPS:

I HAVE VERY GOOD RESULTS BY SOAKING A READY-MADE BELLY IN SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE OVERNIGHT, A LARGE QUANTITY OF ROSIN IS EXTRACTED AND A MUCH DEEPER TONE OBTAINED ---- TRY IT,

N. NICHOLAS,MENTON-GARAVAN, FRANCE.

WORMS I N WOO D:

MR, EDITOR. WOULD LIKE TO K NOW IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO KILL WORMS IN WOOD WITHOUT DES-TRO Y I NG THE WOOD,

G • R. WR I GH T.

� I F ANYONE KNOWS OF A TREA TMENT WR I TE THE ED I TOR, WH Y NOT DO AS MENT 10 NED ABOVE, SOAK IN TURpS AND "KILL TWO WORMS WITH ONE STONE"!

THE PERFECT BOW GR I P:

Buy A PIECE OF RED RUBBER TUB ING ONE QUARTER INCH ( INSIDE MEASUREMENT). CLEAN OFF ALL THE OLD WINDING AND REMOVE THE FROG. CUT A PIECE OF TUBE ABOUT S IX INCHES LONG AND PULL OVER THE END OF STICK UNTIL IT IS IN CORRECT POSITION, IF HARD TO PULL ON, A LITTLE SOAP WILL HELP. CUT A SL I T LONG ENOUGH TO FIT THE FROG BACK I NTO PLACE AND YOU HAVE A GOOD GR I p.

DON WH I TE.

PREVENT I NG CRAC KS F ROM SOUND HOLES:

IF" YOU GLUE A PATCH OF BIAS, NYLON TAPE AROUND THE F , HOLES IT WILL GREATLY STRENGTHEN AND PREV�NT CRACKING, WITHOUT ADDING WEIGHT. MR. PORTER REINFORCED THESE PLACES WITH CROSS-GRAIN WOOD.

G.R. WRIGHT.

ON THE L IGHTER SIDE.

REMOViNG HIS SHOES, HE SNEAKED UP THE S TAIRS, OPENED THE BEDROOM DOOR, SLIPPE D IN AND WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET INTO BED WHEN HIS WIFE AROUSED AND SLEEPILY SAID; "IS THAT YOU FIDO?", THE HUSBAND, RELATING THE STORY TO HIS CRONIES, SAID; "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE I HAD REAL PRESENCE OF MIND. I LICKED HER HAND."

A S PECIAL ATTRACTION FOR MAY 8TH:

A PROGRAM OF EXCEPT I ONAL I NTERES T HilS BEEN ARRANGED BY YOUR PRES I DENT FOR THE NEX T MEET I NG WHICH IS TO BE HELD ON MAY 8TH. AT THE NEW HALL, 4360 MAIN STREET. MR, FRIESS HAS SECURED THE LOAN OF FOUR OLD MASTER VIOLINS, THESE WILL BE PLAYED BY ONE OF THE CITY'S LEADING VIOLINISTS IN A TEST WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED AS FOLL OWS:

ONE OF THE OLD MASTERS, ANO THREE OF OUR OWN MEMBERS' INSTRUMENTS WILL BE PLAYED ALTERNATELY BEHIND THE CURTAIN, THE AUDIENCE WILL BE SUPPLIED WITH CARDS UPON W HICH THEY WILL WRITE WHAT THEY CONSIDER THE ORDER OF MERIT -- OR TRY TO PICK OUT THE OLD MASTER. THIS WILL BE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES WITH DIFFERENT INS TRUMENTS,

TH IS TEST WILL NOT ONLY SHOW HOW OUR MODERN VIOLINS COMPARE WITH THE OLD ONES, BUT SHOULD ALSO PROVE VERY ENTERTAINING,

WHY NOT BRING ALONG YOUR WIFE OR A FRIEND AND LET US ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME, WE HOPE TO SERVE COFFEE AND DO-NUTS BUT THIS LA TTER HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED, STO P PRESS!! ..... MR. FRIESS HAS JUS T ADV ISED ME THAT THESE REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROV IDED, So LET'S ALL TURN OUT AND ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME.

I - 7 - 2

MR. ROB WALLACE'S TO P WOOD:

MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ADMIRED THE WOOD FOR VIOI..IN TOF'S WHICH YOUR SECRETARY DISPLAYED AT THE MARCH MEETING. WE HAVE NOW A PRICE ON THESE HIGH-QUALITY TOPS WHICH IS $3,00 EACH, PLUS POSTAGE AND, OF COURSE, DUTY. THIS WOOO IS USED BY SEVERAL OF THE BEST MAKERS ON THIS SIDE OF THE WATER AND CAN BE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

IF INTERESTED PLEAse CONTACT THE SECRETARY.

THE HOBBY S HOW

YOUR COMMITTEE HAD A VERY EARNEST MEETING AT THE HOME OF MR. HEVWORTH ON APRIL 25TH. ALL

MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AND THEIR OECISIONS NOW AWAIT DISCUSSION WITH THE MANAGER OF THE HOBBY SHOW.

WE ARE SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN GIVING OUT A DEFINITE REPORT BUT THE COMMITTEE WISH TO WiVE

EVERYTHING IN BUSINESS-LIKE ORDER BEFORE ASKING THE MEMBERSHIP TO CONFIRM THEIR DECISIONS.

MY MIND IS MADE UP, DON'T CONFUSE ME WITH FACTS

.. , ..

PUT IT OFF TILL TOMORROW • • • • • YOU'VE MADE ENOUGH MISTAKES FOR TODAy • • • • •

MORE OF T HE VIBRATO - BY DON WITE:

IT'HAD BEEN MY INTENTION OF COMMENCING THE CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT OF THE PORTAMENTO IN T HIS ISSUE. ON SECOND THOUGHT IT WOULD SEEM MORE BUSINESS-LIKE TO CONCLUDE MY REMARKS ON THE

VIBRATO.

SINCE SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE QUERIED MY DECLARATION THAT TONE IS PRODUCED MAINLY BY THE LEFT HAND, I WOULD'LIKE TO GIVE A QUOTE FROM AN UNDISPUTED AUTHORITY, THIS QUOTE IS TAKEN FROM AN ARTICLE BY DR. F.A. SAUNDERS, PH,D. OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE. READERS OF "THE STRAD" WILL HAVE R EAD MANY ARTICLES BY OR. SAUNDERS DESCRIBING HIS INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE UNDERLAYING FACTORS WHICH MAKE A FIRST-CLASS VIOLIN. HE STATES -

"IF BOTH SPEED AND POSITION ON THE STRING ARE KEPT REASONABLY CONSTANT, REPEATED OBSERVATIONS

SHOW THAT NO CONSIDERABL.E CHANGE IN TONE QUALITY C AN OCCUR .... RESULTS SO FAR OBTAINED SHOW THAT THE TONE OBTAINED IS THE SAME NO MATTER WHO DOES THE PLAYING, PROVIDING HE CAN DRAW A SMOOTH EVEN BOW."

WOULD LIKE TO ADD HERE THAT DR. SAUNDERS' WORK IS SO OUTSTANDING AS TO WARRANT A RECORDING OF HIS FINDINGS IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL,

WE ASSUME THEN, THAT THE VIBRATO IS DESIRABLE AND A NECESSITY FOR THE POLISHED ARTIST. SINce MYSELF AM A AMATEUR PLAYER, I WRITE THE FOLLOWING MAINLY FOR AMATEURS WHO WISH TO IMPROVE

THEIR TONE. THERE ARE SO MANY PLAYERS WHO GET GREAT ENJOYMENT FROM VIOLIN PLAYING AND 00 NOT PROVE TO BE VIOLINISTS IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD, YET THESE SAME INDiVIDUALS COULD IMPROVE THEIR PLAYING 100% BY A LITTLE CORRECT PRACTICE OF THE VIBRATO. AT PRESENT THEY HOLD THE LEFT HAND TIGHT TO THE INSTRUMENT, SOME EVEN ALLOW THE NECK TO REST IN THE PALM Of THE HAND. THEY ENDEAVOUR TO EXERT SOME SORT OF SHAKE TO THE HAND UNDER THE I'MPRESSION THAT THE TONE IS BEING IMPROVED, WHEREAS QUITE THE CONTRMY IS TRUE.

THE CORRECT VIBRATO IS PRODUCED AS FOLLOWS: THE THUMB SHOULD REST AGAINST THE NECK,SLIGHTLY UNDER ( SOMETIMES COMPLLTELY UNDER ) . THE NECK RESTING ON THE MIDDLE JOINT OF THE THUMB. ON NO ACCO UNT LET THE NeCK DROP INTO THE CROOK OF THE THUMB AND FIRST FINGER.

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MORE ON THE V I BRATOR (CONT'O)

THE WRIST AND ARM SHOULD HANG ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN. ENDEAVOUR TO GET THE ARM WELL UNDER TO-WARDS THE E STRING SIDE, fiNGERS' ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE fiNGER-BOARD. WITH A LOOSE WRIST THE F INGER IS ROCKED UPWARDS fROM THE TRUE PITCH Of THE NOTE BEING PLACED, BACK DOWN TO BELOW THE TRUE PITCH. THE fiNGER MUST NEVER MOVE SIDEWAVS, ONLY UP AND DOWN. IT IS EASIER TO EXPLAIN THAN DO. IT REQUIRES COMPLETE RELAXATION OF THE WRIST AND fOREARM.

THE BEST WAY TO LEARN IS TO PRACTICE fiRST AWAY FROM THE INSTRUMENT. SIT AT A TABLE, I-fOLD THE LEfT WRIST TIGHT WITH THE RIGHT HAND. WITH THE SECOND fiNGER (THAT IS THE EASIEST) PERPENDICU­LARLY RESTING ON THE TABLE START SWINGING THE LEfT HAND fROM RIGHT TO LEfT, ROCKING ON THE BALL Of THE FINGER. PRACTISE THIS WITH ALL fOUR fiNGERS FOR HOURS AND DAYS. THE WRIST WILL HAVE TO BE REALLY RELAXED.

NEXT PROCEED TO THE INSTRUMENT - (NO BOW) - SIT ON A CHAIR AND HOLD THE VIOLIN AS YOU WOULD A GUITAR, fiNGERS IN PCSITION FOR PLAYING. Now DO THE ROCKING MOTION. PRACTISE E ACH fiNGER. GRADUALLY BRING THE VIOLIN UP AND R.�ISE IT INTO PLAYING POSITION. You MUST BE ABLE TO HOLD THE WHOLE WEIGHT Of THE VIOLIN WI TH THE CHIN. (THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN ORDER TO EMANCIPATE THE LEfT HAND FROM THE INSTRUMENT.) IMAGINE THE LEfT ARM AS COMPLETELY DETACHED fROM THE VI'LIN AND RIGHT HAND. WITH INSTRUMENT HELD TIGHT IN PLAYING POSITION, BOW READY TO PLAY, LEfT ARM HANGING LOOSE AT YOUR SIDE, SHAKE LEfT ARM TO SEE THAT ALL IS RELAXED, RAISE LEFT HAND INTO PLAYING POSITION GRACEfULLY AND START THE VIB.RATO AND ATTACK WITH THE BOW. If YOU HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING THE VIOLIN STEADY REST THE SCROLL AGAINST THE CORNER OF A MIRROR (WHICH IS HUNG ON A WALL) - YOU WILL ALSO IN THIS MANNER BE ABLE TO WATCH YOUR PROGRESS.

AUTHORITIES STATE THAT THE VIBRATO SHOULD START BEfORE ATTACKING WiTH THE BOW. FINGER SHOULD BE PRESSED HARD ON TO fiNGERBOARD, CONCENTRATE YOUR EMOTIONS AND DESIRE fOR GOOD TONE INTO THE fiNGER IN CONTACT, NOT fORGETTING TO KEEP THE BOW UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL.

I WISH I COULD DO ALL THIS AS PROFICIENTLY AS I AM ASKING YOU TO DO IT, I WOULD THEN ENJOY THE EXCITING AND EMOTIONAL TONE OF A CAMPOLI. MEANWHILE I CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE MY PLAYING TO THE EXTENT THAT MY CRAMPED MUSCLES WILL ALLOW AND ASK YOU TO DO LIKEWISE. AT RARE MOMENTS EXECUTE THE TRUE VIBRATO AND THE THRILL I EXPERIENCE IS WORTH ALL THE TIME SPENT. YOU TOO CAN ENJOY TH IS PLEASURE.

LE T T ERS TO THE ED I T OR . MENTON-GARAVAN, FRANCE.

DEAR MR. WHITE:

MANY THANKS fOR YOUR INTERESTING LETTER AND THE ENCLOSURE Of THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL.

I REGRET THAT YOU HAVE LOST DOC. PORTER, HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A VERY INTERESTING MAN Of THE OLO V I OL I N SCHOOL. BUT I CANNOT PASS SOME Of THE fiGURES GIVEN I N THE F EBRUAR Y Iss UE ABOUT TH E BASS-BAR, IT SAYS THE B ASS-BAR ENDS 9/16" BEfORE THE BOTTOM END AND I - 3/4" BEFORE THE TOP EDGE. THAT MADES 2-15/16", THE LENGTH Of THE BELLY IS 13-15/16" LESS 2-5/16", EQUALS II AND 5/8" LENGTH OF THE BAR, IT IS MUCH TOO LONG. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY LONGER THAN 10 AND 3/4" fOR A 14" fiDDLE, BUT I T ALSO DEPENDS ON THE SHAPE Of T HE BAR, I F 1 T IS VERY TH I N AT THE ENDS THEY

COULD BE LONGER.

I HAVE A LETTER fROM A MEMBER IN CALifORNIA WHO MADE A VI OLIN fROM REDWOOD fOR THE BELLY WHICH HAD EXTREMELY GOOD TONE, WHAT LOCAL WOOD DO YOUR PEO PLE USE, AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A PIECE FOR ONE ViOLIN BELLY? IT WILL HELP VERY MUCH IN MY EXPERIMENTS WITH DIFfERENT WOODS. HERE WE ARE VER Y SHOR T Of CHO ICE.

HOPE YOU WILL WRITE ME ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES Of YOUR MEMBERS, AND PERSUADE THEM TO WRITE A CAREfULLY THOUGHT OUT QUESTIONNAIRE fOR EACH VIOLIN: WEIGHTS, SIZES, THICKNESSES, ETC. IN THIS WA Y WE MA Y f I NO WHA T ONE F I DOLE HAS THA T ANOTHER DOES NOT.

YOURS SINCERELY, N. NICHOLAS (PRES. VIOLIN MAKERS ASSN,)

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ( CONT'O )

MR. JOSEPH V. REID'S LETTER

DEAR MR. WH I TE:

WAS MORE THAN OELIGHTED TO RECEIVE YOUR KIND LETTER. I THINK IT A MAGNifiCENT IDEA THAT YOU HAVE FORMED THIS ASSOCIATION AND CERTAINLY YOU SH OULD ENDEAVOUR TO GET PUBLICITY ON THE T.V. WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT AND A GOVERNMENT GRANT, WHO KNOWS THAT YOU MAY NOT SOME DAY BE ABLE TO COMMENCE C OLLECTING PRIME SAMPLES OF LIVING VIOLIN MAKERS' WORK FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THESE COULD B E KEPT IN A CENTRAL POINT AND PLAYED REGULARLY BY PEOPLE WHO C OULD BE TRUSTED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

You HAVE PROBABLY THE BEST TOP WOOD IN THE CONTINENT, HIGH ALTITUDE ENGLEMAN SPRUCE. I AM TRYING TO GET SOME OF THIS FOR TOPS FOR VIOLINS AND CELLOS. IT IS LIGHT, STRONG AND HAS EX-CELLENT ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES.

My FRIEND ROBERT HOLT OF BELFAST, MAIN, MAKES THE BEST SOUNDING AMATEUR-MADE VIOLINS I HAVE EVER TRIED, HIS WORK IS CRUDE BUT THE VARNISH IS WELL DONE AND THE TONE IS EXCELLENT. I BELIEVE A LITTLE TOO MUCH I�PORTANCE IS ATTACHED TO THE BEAUTY OF THE VIOLIN. THE TONE IS THE REAL REASON FOR BUILDING IT, MR. HOLT POLISHES THE RAW WOOD WITH A PIECE OF HARD SMOOTH BONE BEFORE THE FIRST COAT OF VARNISH, BUT I BELIEVE HIS SCRET OF TONE IS THE OLD WOOD HE USES fOR THE TOP.

I AM A BELIEVER IN NATIVE WOODS fOR BACKS, OBTAINED fROM EITHER COAST, WOODS FROM CENTRAL CANADA APPEAR TO BE QUITE UNSUITABLE fOR VIOLINS - LAUBI'S WOOD FROM ZAUCH, SWITZERLAND (1910) IS fiNE STUFf.

CANADA LAGS BEHIND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS AND ANYTHING ANYONE DOE S TO DE-VELOP OR HELP DEVELOP THESE TH INGS IS DOING HIS COUNTRY A GREAT SERVICE. MUSIC IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TONICS VIE CAN TAKE. HAVE ANY OF YOUR MEMBERS TRIED OfF CENTRE GRADUATION fOR THE BAC K ONLY? SINCE ALL THE PRESSURE OF THE POS T COMES AT A SMALL PO I NT ON THE I NS IDE OF THE BACK, I THINK THE STRONGEST AND THICKEST PORTION OF THE BACK SHOULD BE CENTRALIZED ABOUT THE LOC ATION OF C ENTRE OF THE BOTTOM END Of THE SOUND POST. I HAVE TRIED IT OUT AND IT WORKS,

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL SUCH AS SIZE AND OUTLINE Of MODEL-DEPTH AND THICKNESS OF SIDES, ETC., THINK THAT WHAT AFFECTS AND PRODUCES TONE IS TYPE OF WOOD, GRADUATION AND PLAYING. I DO NOT

BELIEVE THAT VARNISH ITSELf HAS TOO MUCH TO DO WITH TONE.

THE BIG FACTOR IS WHAT KIND OF TONE DOES ONE LIKE. EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT LIKING fOR COLOR, FOOD, CLOTHES AND NO DOUBT THIS APPLIES TO VIOLIN TONE TOO,

HAVE YOU TRIED JEWELLER'S ROUGE AND ORDINARY 2 IN lOlL fOR fINAL POLISHING OF THE VARNISH? HAVE HAD GOOD RESUL TS.

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT THE SECRET INGREDIENT OF THE STRAD VARNISH WAS DI SCOVE�ED RECENTLY IN SWITZERLAND? ApPARENTLY THEY CAN PROVE IT. HE USED A MATERIAL MADE BY THE BEES, TO SIZE THE WHITE RAW WOOD AS WELL AS USING THE SAME MATERIAL AS AN INGREDIENT OF THE VARNISH ITSELF. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT, AS YET JUST WHAT THIS MATERIAL CAN BE.

My PRODUCTION SINCE EARLY 1947 IS 26 VIOLINS - 3 VIOLAS AND I CELLO. I RECORD THE TONE Of BACK AND BELLY BEfORE GLUE!NG THEM ON.

WELL THIS IS ALL AT THIS MOMENT AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.

BES T REGARDS, JOSE PH V. RE I 0 •

I - 7 - 5

DON W HI TE, EDITOR

THE V IOLI N MA KERS ' J OURNA L

PUBLIS HED BY T H E VIOL I N MA KERS' ASSOCIAT I ON OF BR I T I SH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • . • • NO. 8 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • VA NCOU V E R , B.C • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ju NE L958

DEA TH OF A CA T.

W E A R E ALL F A M I L I A R W IT H THE E X PRESSIO N "CUR IOS I TY K ILL E D T H E C AT". H I STORY DO ES NOT

R ELATE JUST W HAT O B J ECT T HIS I NQUISITIVE F EL I NE WAS I NV ESTIGATI N G , BUT T H E IMPRESSIO N GIV E N

I S T HAT W E S HOULD R EFRAI N F R OM A NY FO R M OF CUR I OSITY. W E W OULD L I KE T O CO NT R AD I CT l HIS SU G GESTI O N WIT H T H E CLA I M T HAT CURIOSITY IS A VERY V ALU A B L E AT TRIBUT E .

T H E I NSTINCT OF SELF PRESE R V ATIO N,SIM PLY KEEPS US A LI V E , W HI LE T H E SEX-U RG E (I NST I NCT

OF R E PR O DUCTI O N ) ASSU RES T H E CONTI NU A NC E OF THE R A C E, ASSU R E D LY TWO V ERY IMPORT A NT QU ALIT I ES , BUT WIT H OUT TH I S T HIRD I NSTI NCT - CU RI OS ITY.T H E HUMAN RAC E W OUL D NE VER H A V E EVOLVE D F RO M T H E S A VAGE CAV EMA N,

CURIOSIT Y IS A N ATTR I BUTE POSS ESS E D BY T H E I NQU I R I NG M I ND . A N I RRIST ABL E F OR C E W H I CH E NV EL O PE D T HE M I N OS OF ME N LI KE NEWT ON , E DISON A NO PASTEUR. T HESE M EN L I VED W I T H A T E R RIFIC T H I RST FO R K NOWL EDGE-A DES I R E TO E X PL O R E T H E MYST ERI ES OF T H E U NIVERSE - TH E I NSrlNCT OF CU RIOS I TY- , EXT R EM ELY PROMI NENT A ND OV ERW H ELMING.

T HIS W AS ALSO THE F OR C E T HAT FILLE D T H E M I ND OF S T R A D I VA RI , IT C AUSED HIM TO B R EAK AWAY F RO M T H E MODELS OF GAS PARO D A S AL O A ND OF M A G G I N I A ND T O STRI KE OFF O N A NEW PAT H OF HIS OW N .

Or«:E H A V I NG EST A BL I S H EO A M O D EL T HAT S EE M E D PROMIS I NG HE S PE NT HIS W HOL E L I F E EX PER I M E NTIN G O N V A RIATI O NS OF H'IS FIRST EFFORTS. iF HE WE R E ALIV E T ODAY HE W OUL D STI L L BE EXPE R I M E NT I NG A ND M A KI N G C H A NG ES, HE W OUL D B E I N T H E F RO NT R A NK OF T H E S C I E NT I FIC I NV ESTIGAT O RS. HOw COUL D

H E B E OT H ERWISE; POSS ESS E D AS HE WAS WITH THAT INQUI RI NG M I ND?

Y ET TO D AY W E FI ND M A NY C R AFTSM E N WHO O PE NLY WORSH I P T H E G EN I US OF S T R A D I V A R I A ND F OLL OW H I S M O D ELS T O T H E L ETTER E V E N PUTTI NG I N I MITAT I O N PEGS I N THE TO P OF T H E PU RFLING, T H ES E

A R E MAK ERS W H O HAV E V E RY LITTL E OF T H E INSTI NCT OF CURIOS I T Y, T H EY A R E T R A D ITION'LlSTS A ND

T R A D I T I O N C A N B E A V ERY D A NG EROUS T HI N G IF' W E A R E ATT EM PTI NG TO P R O DU C E T H E B EST, W HAT W E F A I L T O COMPR EHE ND IS T HAT JUST AS T H E ACT i O NS OF T H E PAST B EC OM E THE T R A DITI O NS OF' TO DAY

S O WILL OU R A C HI E V E M E NTS B EC O M E T H E T R A D I T I ONS OF' T H E fUTU R E. A R E WE C R EATI NG TRAD I T I O NS T H AT W I L L B E W O RT HY OF B E I NG C ALL E D SUC H? W� O W I LL WORSH I P US ?

I F EVE RYONE SWE EPS BEFORE HIS OW N DOORS T E P THE W HOLE

S TREE T I S CLEA N .

OLD MAS T ERS VS, MODERN C RAF TSMA N .

O L D I T AL I A N V I OLINS WH E N PLAY E D A GA I NST MODE R N I NSTRUMENTS OFTEN TUR N OUT TO B E T H E LOS E RS W H EN JUD G E D B Y A N AU DIEN C E. A T OUR LAST MEETI NG THE "OLD" BOyS W E R E I N GO OD F ORM A ND

A BL E TO T A KE O N ALL C OMERS, T HE RESULT B EI N G A COM PLET E VICT O RY FOR T H E OL D SC HOOL,

A M I C H A EL D ECO NETT I A ND A MAR CO A NT O NIO C ERIN WER E P LAYE D BEHI ND A CURTA I N TO A L A R G E AU D I E NC E A G A I NST TW O O F O U R MEMB ERS VIOL I NS. T H E MAJ OR I TY OFT H E LIST ENERS VOTSD I N FAVO R OF' T H E I TALIAN V I OLI NS.

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O LD MAST ERS VS. MOD ERN CRAFTS MI\ N . ( CONT'D )

OUR THANKS ARE EXTENDED TO MR. OSBALDESTON FOR HIS DELIGHTFUL AND FAIR PLAYING, ALSO TO MR. BRUNO DALLA PORTA FOR THE KIND LOAN OF THE TWO BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN VIOLINS .

AFTER THE TEST MR. QSBALDESTON ENTERTAINED THE AUDIENCE WITH SEVERAL VIOLIN SOLOS WHICH HE PLAYED WITH BEAUTIFUL AND SYMPATHETIC TONE. HE WAS SUPPORTED BY MRS. HEYWORTH AT THE PIANO WHOSE ACCOMPANIMENTS WERE MOST ENJOYABLE.

THANKS ARE ALSO DUE TO THOSE WHO PROV IDEO THE EXCELLENT REFRESHMENTS WH I CH ROUNDED OFF A VERY PLEASANT EVENING.

JUNE 12TH???

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATI6N �ILLBE HELD ON THE AOOVE DATE. THIS WILL BE PARTLY A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING WILL BE TAKEN UP WITH A PROGRAM YET TO BE ARRANGED, BUT YOU MAY BE ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING. LET US HAVE A FULL ATTENDANCE.

GOOD TOP WOOD.

MR. GORDON CUMMINGS HAS SOME VERY FINE ENGLEMAN SPRUCE OF EXCELLENT TONAL QUALITY. THESE ARE ONL Y :�3.00 EACH. GORDON ALSO HAS OTHER WOOD FOR 80TH BACKS AND TOPS. SAY, HOW 00 YOU GET IN ON ALL THIS WOOD GORDON?

COMMUN I CA T I OtJS •

WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO PUBLISH SEVERAL LETTERS FROM MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS IN THIS ISSUE. THESE WE BELIEVE WILL BE OF INTEREST TO ALL. WE HOPE THAT THESE LETTERS WILL CONTINUE TO COME IN AS IT GIVES US YOUR REACTIO�I TO THE JOURNAL, IF YOU LIKE THE PAPER SAY SO AND IF YOU WISH TO THROW A FEW "BRICK BATS" THEY TOO ARE WELCOME, WE WANT MORE MATERIAL FOR THE COLUMN "CHIpS FROM THE CHISEL. SEE IF YOU CANNOT DIG UP SOME HINT THAT WILL HELP SOMEONE.

I NTRODUCT I O N TO THE POR TAMENTO. BY DON WH I TE •

OF ALL THE MEDIUMS OF EXPRESSION ON THE VIOLIN THE PORTAMENTO IS PERHApS THE MOST ABUSED, So MUCH SO, IN FACT, THAT IT IS DISCOURAGED BY MOST TEACHERS. YET ITS SKILFUL USE NOT ONLY LENDS FEELING TO THE RENDITION BUT BRINGS THE INSTRUMENT CLOSER TO THE HUMAN VOtCE THAT EVEN THE VIBRATO.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE WORD PORTAMENTO IT MIGHT BE WELL TO EXPLAIN ITS MEANING AND USE, DESCRIBING IT IN ITS CRUDEST FORM, FOR PURPOSES OF DEFINITION, IT IS PERFORMED BY SLIDING ONE OF THE FINGERS OF THE LEFT HAND FROM ONE NOTE DOWN ( OR UP ) TO ANOTHER, THE TWO NOTES GENERALLY BEING SOME DISTANCE APART. IN THIS INSTANCE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE A "CATAWAUL". IT MUST NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE GLISSANDO, WHICH LATTER SOUNDS EVERY TONE OR SEMI-TONE AS THE FINGER OR FINGERS SLIDE DOWN TO THE NEXT NOTE OF THE SELECTION BEING PLAYED. THE EFFECT OF THE PORTAMENTO MAY ALSO BE DESCRIBED AS "SCOOPING" FROM ONE NOTE TO ANOTHER.

RETURNING TO THE HUMAN VOICE AGAIN THE PORTAMENTO IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN OPERA SINGERS. You HAVE ALL LISTENED TO THE SOPRANO. AT THE END OF HER ARIA SHE HITS POSSIBLY A VERY HIGH NOTE, THEN SLIDES DOWN TO THE FINAL NOTE. THE OPERATIC TENOR. AS WE SHALL SEE LATER, DOES

I - 8 - 2

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INTRODUCT ION TO THE PORTAMENTO ( CONT'D )

MOS T OF HIS POR TAMENTO ON THE ASCEND I NG PASSAGE,

IT IS A PECULIAR THING THAT OF' ALL THE TEXT BOOKS WRITTEN FOR THE VIOLIN VERYF'EVI GIVE MORE THAN A PASSING MENTION OF' THE PORTAMENTO, AND ONLY THEN TO WARN YOU AGAINST ITS USE, THIS IN SPITE.OF' THE F'ACT THAT, IF HE IS A GOOD VIOLINIST, THE TEACHER HIMSELF USES IT CONTINUALLY. A GOOD PLAYER IS PERPETUALLY STROKING ONE NOTE INTO ANOTHER OR GLIDING GENTLY INTO ONE. OFTEN HE IS COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS OF' ACT, IT IS JUST ONE OF HIS T RICKS. EVEN WHEN WE ARE AMAZED AT THE ARTIST HITTING A HIGH NOTE APPARENTLY IN PERFECT PITCH, WHO IS TO SAY THERE WAS NOT AN IMPERCEPTABLE GLIDING INTO THAT TOP NOTE? A GLIDE INSTANTLY COVERED UP BY A SLIGHT VIBRATO, AN ADJUSTME';JT THAT EVEN THE ARTIST IS UNAWARE OF. THE HAND, IN THIS CASE, BEING QUICKER THAN THE EAR,

YES, THE ARTIST KEEPS THE PORTAMENTO IN CONSTANT USE, HE IS FOREVER MOULDING ONE NOTE INTO ANOTHER, EVEN THE,PIANIST CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS BY A SKILFUL OVERLAPPING OF NOTES, CREATING THE ILLUSION OF MERGING ONE NOTE INTO THE NEXT, BUT A GOOD SINGING TONE ON THE PIANO IS VERY RARE, How MANY PIANISTS CAN PLAY BACH '5 "JEUS JOY OF MAN'S DES IR I NG" IVI TH A PURE LEGATO?, AND LEt THE VIOLINIST WHO THINKS HE HAS A GOOD SINGING TONE TRY IT AND PRODUCE THE CONTINUOUS, ALMOST MOTO PERPATUO EFFECT.

IF' WE ADMIT THEN, THAT ALL ARTISTS USC THE PORTAMENTO TO A LESSER OR GREATER DEGREE AND THAT MANY 00 SO WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING THEY ARE DOING SO, WOULD IT NOT BE SENSIBLE 'TO RECO­NIZE THIS FACT IN ORDER .THAT WE MAY USE IT CONSCIOUSLY ANO HAVE IT UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL?

WE MAY TAKE TH� HUMAN VOICE AS OUR IDEAL, FO� IT' IS CONCEDED THAT I i IS THE MOST F'LEXIBLE, EXPRESSIVE AND EMOTION�L OF ALe INST� UMENTS AND iHE 0 10L i NISTS A�Bl jI6N IS TO DUPLICATE ITS MERITS, HENCE THE CONTINUAl. REQUEST F6R THE SINGING TONE. THE VIOLINISTS CAN 00 THIS IMITA-TION VERY CLOSELY FOR His INSTRUMENT IS SAID TO BE ALMOST EQUAL TO THE HUMAN VOICE FOR IT CAN PRODUCE NEARLY ALL ITS QUALITIES,

IN THE NEXT ISSUE I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO SHOW HOW THE VIOLINIST DUPLICATES THIS HUMAN QUALITY AND HOW THE STYLE OF BOTH SINGING AND VIOLIN PLAYING HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLE DURING THE LAST 50 YEARS, I HOPE I HAVE ,\LREADY PRODUCED SUFF ICIENT ARGUMENT TO PROVE THAT THE PORTAMENTO IS STILL IN USE AND WILL REMAIN WITH US AS LONG AS WE SEEK TO PRODUCE A SINGING TONE,

MR. KUJAWA'S VARI'JISH.

THE FOLLOWING ( IN CONDENSED FOFlM ) IS A LETTER RECEIVED F"ROM MR, KUJAWA OF ST, PAUL, MINN. BESIDES DESCRIBING HIS EXCELLENT VARNISH IT CONTAINS SOME VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS,

MR, KUJAWA SENT ME A SAMPLE OF VARNISH WHICH I HAVE JUST FINISHED USING ON TWO VIOLINS, HAVE NO HESITATION IN SAYING THAT IT IS THE BEST " HAVE EV'ER TRIED. THIS IS NOT FREE

ADVERTISING I AM GIVING HIM BUT SIMPLY A STATEMENT TO PUT YOU VlISE TO A GOOD THING, IT IS BEAUTIF"ULLY TRANSPARENT AND F"LOWS ON JUST LIKE PAINTING A HOUSE� IT COMES IN ALL COLORS AND THE PRICES ARE RIGHT, FOLLOWING IS HIS LETTER:

DEAR MR, WHITE: I THINK YOUR JOURNAL IS JUST SWELL. WE HAVE A CLUB, ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER

SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT,

THE DRY KILNING OF' WOOD, I DON'T BELIEVE HURTS THE WOOD ANY, VIOLIN BRIDGES ARE SOAKED F"OR THREE DAYS AND THEN STAMPED OUT WITH A DIE, SIMILAR TO THOSE THEY CUT OUT JIG-SAW PUZZLES WITH, DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE CUT OUT WITH A JIG-SAW,

I - 8 - 3

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MR . KUJ A WA 'S VA R N I S H ( CONT ' D )

I F YOU COULD GET SOME GOOD S I TKA S PR UC E F O R ME I WOULD S UR E A P PREC I A TE I T . L E T ME KNOW

WHA T THE Y WA N T FOR I T A ND I W I LL SEND MONE Y .

R E G A R D I NG M Y V A R N I S H : A V i OL I N MA KER W H O HAS J US T D I ED S A I D TO ME, " YOU DON ' T HAVE TO E X PER I MENT ANY F UR TH ER , TH I S I S T H E OLD I TA L I A N VARN I SH. " T H E MAN WHO SA I D T HA T WAS C HA S .

E . H ERB RIG, A V I O L I N M A KCR W I TH A N NTER NA T I ONAL R E PU TA T I ON . M Y V A R N I S H PR I C ES AR E : 2 O Z , $ L . 35 . . .4 OZ . $2 . 60 . . . 8 oz . $ 5 . 00. TH I S I S M A D E F R O M TH E F L'ES T G UMS O B TA I NA B L E .

H A v e A L S O A GO OD S H A D I NG S TA I N F O R TWO-TONE EFF ECTS . YO U PUT I T ON B E T W E E N C OA TS , H I GHL Y

TRA NSPA RENT, A ND V E R Y Ef�S Y TO A PPL Y . I ' L L S E ND Y 0 U A SAM PLE . I T I S NO T A S P I R I T OR A N O I L

S TA I N, I T DOES N O T B I TE IN RA P I D L Y, S O YOU H A V E T I ME TO M O V E I T f..R O UNO . Yo u C A N S H A D E WONDER-

F ULL Y VI I TH I T.

S. K UJ ,\ VlA .

L 9 58 E . H A W T H ORNE , S T . PA UL , MINN .

A R E YOU H E L P I NG Vi l T H T H E S OLUT I O N, OR A R E YO U T H E PR OBLE!' ?

T HE HO B B Y S HO W .

Y O UR HOBB Y S HOIV C OM M I T TEE ME T o r� Mi Y L 6 TH A T THE HOME OF MR . FL O YD H O L L Y A ND C O NF ER R E D

W I TH M R . NORMA N COLLINGWOOD, MA NAGER O F T H E S HO W . T H E Y PR E S E: N TED THEIR REQUESTS A ND S UG GESTIONS WHIC H WERE G I V E N C A R EF UL THO UG H T A ND CONS I DE R A T I ON B Y M R . C O L L I NGWO O D .

A F TER SOME D I S C USS I O N T H E F OL L O W I NG DEC I S I O �S WER E ARR I VED A T . THESE THE MEMBERSH I P W I LL BE A S KED TO R A T i f Y A T T H E J UNE L2 T H MEE T I NG . MR . C O LL I NGW O O D , O N B E H A LF OF THE P .N . E . E XH I B I T I O N HAS ACCEPTED THEM :

L . THA T THE SPACE o r T H E BOO TH W I LL B E A PPROXIMt, TEL Y 24 F T . L O NG B Y 8 f T . D E E P . 2 . I NS T R UM E N TS THA T W E R E EXH I B I TED LAS T YEAR MA Y BE eNTERED AGA I N TH I S Y£:AR , eX C E P T I NG A N Y

THA T WERE PR IZE-W I NNERS •

3 . T H A T THER E B E THREE COMPE T ENT J UDGES, YE T TO BE S E L EC TED .

4. A F T e R J UDGES HAVE B EE N SELEC TED A M E E T I NG OF THESE J UDGES A ND THE HOB B Y S H O W C OMM I T TE E

W I LL B E CALLED A T WH I C H THE METHOD O F J UDG I NG A ND O TH ER DETAILS W I L L B E DIS CUSSED .

5 . T HA T A L L I NS T R UM E N TS 'II I LL B E JUDGED T E N DA YS BEFORE T H E SHOW I N A H A L L O T H ER THAN THC

H O B B Y SHOW HA LL A ND TH4 T TWO OF O UR MEr,iB ERS 8 E PR ES E N T A T TH E JUDGING. 6 . ALL V I O L I NS FROM O U T OF T O W N W I L L H A V E THE EX PR E S S C HA R G E S PI; \ D B O TH WA yS . T H E E N TR Y

F E E I S f R E E TO A L L .

WE S UGGES T THE M EM B EflS H 1 P REA D TH ESE R E C OMM E ND{I T I O NS C AREf UL L Y SO THAT NO T I M E W I L L BE L OS T DIS C USS I NG T H E PO I N TS WHEN TH E Y A R E PR E S E N TE D .

WE Vl I S H T O THANK M R . C OL L I NGWOOD F OR THE VER Y F UL L C O O PERA T I O N HE EXTENDED US A ND IN RETURN WE B EL I EVE THA T OUR A SSOC I A TI O N WILL NOT DIS A P PO I NT H I M I N T H E QUALI T Y OF THE EXHIB I T

WE PU T O N . TH I S LA T TER , HOWEVER, W I LL DE PE ND UPON T H E EfFOR TS E A C H I ND I V I DUA L MEMBER PUTS I NTO THE PRO J EC T . lYE KNOW THA T YO U W I L L ALL 00 YOUR U T TERMOS T .

S YM PHONY HA L L

M OS T OF U S A P PR EC I A TE GOOD M USIC ON THE RAD I O B U "r I T I S R EGRE TTABLE THAT M O S T S TA T I ONS FILL THE A I R W I TH A N Y THING B U T � ONE S TA T I ON , A T LEAS T, CONT I NUES TO S U P PL Y T H I S URG E N T N E E D .

I R E: F ER TO C . K . L . G . I N NOR TH V A N . A ND T H E PROG RAM S YM PH ON Y HALL" WH I C H I S PRESE N TED EACH

E V E N I NG F ROM 9 : 3 0 T O L L O ' C LOC K . T H E PROGRAM C ONSIS TS O F S YM PHO N Y I\ ND CONCER TO MUSIC, NO S I NG I NG . T H E Y G ENER A L L Y H A V E A B O U T THREE V I O L I N C O NCER TOS D UR I NG TH E WEEK.

I N TH I S C ONNEC TION, C . K . L . G . ?R OV I DE A VER Y EX C E L LENT SERVICE I N T H E F O R M OF A W E E K L Y

PRO G R A M WH I CH O U TL I NES T H E WEEKS SCHEDULE. TH I S PR OGRAM I S fREE A ND C A N BE OB TA I NED FROM

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S YM PHONY HALL ( C O N T ' D )

C . K . L . G • • L43 E . L L . NOR TH VANC O UVER , WR I TE THEM A ND THE Y W I LL S E ND YOU A C O py EAC H MO NOA Y ,

M I S TA KE N I DENT I T Y

W I F E : " TH E MA I D QU I T . S H E S A I D YOU S POKE TO HER I NS'UL T I NG L Y OVER TH E PHO NE , " HUB B Y : " YE GODS � I THOUGH T I WAS TA L K I NG TO YO U , "

C H I P.3 F ROM THE CH I S E L

S E TT I NG U P SOUND POS T : I T I S BES T T O S E TU P THE SO UND POS T B EFORE PU T T I NG O N THE S TR I NGS . PULL O U T THE TA I L- P I N

A ND US E THE HOLE F OR A PEA P-HOLE , A T TAC H A P I EC E OF TH I N C O T TO N S TR I NG TO THE TO P O F THE S OUND POS T US I NG A DOUB LE. OR C LO V E H I TC H , THE POS T W I LL B E I N THE M I DDLE OF' THE S TR I NG WH I CH I S ABOUT HIELVE I NCHES LONG , THREAD THE S TR I NG THR O UG H THE H OLES A ND TIiE POS T W I LL B E DANGL I NG I N PLAC E . F O L D THE TWO E ND S O f THE S TR I NG W I TH L Ef T H A ND A ND S E T U P POS T W I TH R I GH T HA ND , Now LOOK THR O UGH PEE P HOLE A ND seE H O W TH I NGS A.R E , I F' I T I S NO T A PERF EC T F I T, I T I S NO TR I C K TO REMOVE THE POS T FROM THE V I OL I N B Y MEANS OF THE S TR I NG , S TR I NG C A N EAS I L Y

B E R EMOVED B Y EDG I NG THE H I TCH D O W N B Y MEANS OF THE POS T-S E T TE R , LOOSEN THE H I TC H W I TH A SHAR P OB J E C T A ND REMOVE S TR I NG ,

F I NA L PO L I S H I NG •

I N TH E F I NA L POL I SH I NG OF A V I OL I N M R , POR TE R USED TO US E HALF' A BRAZ I L NUT, OR N I GG ER-TO E D I PPE D I N POL I S H I NG POWDER , I T HAS J US T TH E R I G H T AMOUNT OF O I L A ND WON ' T S C R A TC H ,

MA K I NG A PERFECT J O I NT : . .

H . BR I GGS

HERE IS A N O THER C I P F R OM M Y C H I S EL . I F A BEG I NNER HAS D I FF I C UL T Y I N MA K I NG A PERf EC T J O I NT DOWN THE C E N TR E Of A B A C K OR B EL L Y . F I RS T PLA NE THE J O I NT A3 A C C UR A TEL Y AS POS S I BLE, THE N TAKE A M I LL E D M E TA L S URFAC E , S UCH AS THE TOP OF A SAW TABLE OR THE B O T TOM OF' A JACK­PLA NE ( W I TH THE B LI\OE R EMOVED ) , R UB A S OF T B LA C K PE NC I L ARO UND A B I T O N THE M I LLED S URfACE A ND THEN R UB THE EDGE OF' YOUR MA PLE OR S PR UC E O N TH I S SMOO TH M E TAL , T H EN W I TH A f i LE OR S C R A PER, R EMOV E A VER Y L I T TLE OF' THE WOO D f R OM THE S PO TS THA T HAVE B E E N B LAC KENED , K E E P TH I S U P A ND YOU W I LL S O O N HAVE A PERFEC T J O I N T .

H , BR I GGS S T EEL WOO L FOR RUB B I NG D OWN .

S TEEL WOOL I S F'AR B E T TER THA N S A ND O R GARNE T PA PER F OR R UBB I NG D OW N B E TWEE N COA TS OF' VAR N I S H , You W I LL f i ND I T V ER Y EAS Y TO B R US H TH E S URfACE CLEAN B Y M E A NS OF' A fA I RL Y S T I F'F' PA I NT BRUS H , T HERE W I LL B E NO G R I T LEf T AS I S OFTEN THE CAS E W I TH PA PERS , A LS O THERE W I LL B E NO SCRA TCH MA R KS PROV 1 0 I NG YOU B U Y THE V ER Y F' I N E WOO L .

D O N WH I TE EDGES OF PLATES .

T H E TEX T BOOKS TELL YOU TO TH I N THE EDGE: OF THE PLA TES TO I 18 TH B EFORE S TAR T I NG THE M OULD I NG OR SCOOP I NG O U T . I F' YOU K E E P THE EDGE T O 3/ 1 � TH ' S YOU W I LL NOT HAVE Td WORR Y I f YOU TAKE A L I T TL E OF T H E EDGE OfF' WHEN S A ND I NG . You HAVE 1/ 1 6 TH I N R ES ER V E , I T I S A S I M PLE MA T TER TO B R I NG THE EDGE DOWN TO L/8 Af TERWARDS BY TA K I NG D O WN F'ROM THE UND ERS I DE OF' THE PLA T E . You CAN A LWA YS TAKE WOOD Off B UT I T I S A NO THER MA T TE R TO PU T I T B AC K .

THA T V I BRA T O DEAR D O N ;

LET TERS TO T H E ED I T OR

I HAVE READ W I TH NO T A L I T TL E I NTERES T YOUR AR T I C LES 0 , T H E V I BR A TO , AS I H A V E A LR EAD Y B EE N I NVOLV ED I N S EV ER A L D I SC USS I ONS O N TH I S S AME S0B J E C T I F EE L I MA Y AS WELL G E T I N A L I T TLE DEE PER .

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LETT ERS T O T H E ED I TOR ( C O N T I D ) T HA T V I BRA T O ( C O N T I D )

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T HE THEO R Y THA T TO NE PR O D UC T I O N I S D E PE ND E N T O N L Y O N T HE LEF T H A ND 1 5 ONE WH I C H I C A N

N O T A L TOGETHER A GREE . R E YOUR Q UO T E F R OM D R . S AU ND ERS A R T I C LE THERE I S O NE PAR A GR A PH WH I CH

READS " I F B O TH S PEED A ND POS I T I O N O N THE S TR I NG A R E KE PT R E A S O NAB L Y C O NS TA N T NO C O NS I DERAB L E

C H A NG E I N TO NE PRO D UC T I O N O C C U R , PROV I D I NG A S M O O T H E V E N B O W I S D R A W N . " My WH O LE A R G UM F. N T

B R I DGES O N TH I S O NE L I T TLE W O R D " I F " .

H o w M A N Y OF US H A V E L E A R NE D TO D R 4 W THA T S M O O TH EVEN S TE A D Y B O W ? T H I S I S A M O S T

D I F F I C UL T TH I NG TO D O A ND W I THO U T WH I C H THE F I NES T V I B RA TO O B T A I NA B LE I S USE LES S .

A NO TH E R F A C TOR WH I CH C A N N O T BE O V E R L O O KED I S THA T PRESS URE M US T BE A P PL I E D C O R RE C TL Y

A ND C H A NGED TO PROV I DE PR O PER T O NE S H A D I NG .

No O NE C A N DE N Y THA T A W E L L C O N TR O L LE D V I B R A T O I S A B EA U T I F UL T H I NG B U T I r OVER

EM PH A S I ZE D I T I S A N A B OM I NA T I O N A ND I F L I S TE N E D TO L O NG E NO U G H BECOMES I N T O L E R A B LE . ONE

S H O U L D BE B A RE L Y C O NS C I O US O F A WEL L EXEC U TED V I B R A TO A ND I N S OME PAS S A GES WH I C H I NC L UDE

C H OR DS A ND DO U B LE S TO pS I T M A Y BE D I S PE NS ED W I TH E N T I REL Y .

I B E L I EVE THER E A R E THREE TH I NGS NECES S A R Y F O R H I GH Q UA L I T Y T O NE PR O D UC T I O N • • • C O M PLE TE

C O N T R O L OF THE B O W . ( R I GH T HA ND ) • • • • T HE ME N TA L A ND EMOT I ONA L M A KE - U P OF THE P L A YER . . . . A ND T H E

" FE E L " A ND V I B R A TO OF T HE ( LEF T H A ND ) E A C H W O R K I NG I N C O-O R D I NA T I O � W I TH THE O THER W I LL

PR OD UC E A TO NE WH I C H I N M Y O P I N I O N W I L L S A T I S F Y T H E M OS T DEMA ND I NG .

T HE O NE TH I NG I REGRE T M ORE T H A N A N YTH I NG I S T H A T I A M NO T OF S UFF I C I E N T C A L I B R E TO

DEM ONS TRA TE T H I S , H OWE V E R I T W O ULD BE N I CE I F O NE C O ULD HEA R S OME O THER O P l r� I ONS ON TH I S VER Y I N TERES T I NG S UB J EC T .

I A M LOOK I NG F ORWA R D T O YO UR A R T I C LE O N THE POR TAME N T O A ND rEEL S URE I T W I L L P R O V I DE AS

M UC H F O OD F OR T H O UG H T A S THOSE A R T I C L ES YO U HAVE PREV I O US L Y WR I TTE N .

S I NCEREL Y, B I LL WA T ER S , 2 .1 9 1\'/ . \'S T A VE .

DEA R M R . WH I TE :

B E L A TED T HA NKS F O R THE C O P I ES or T HE J O UR NA L . I HAVE E NJ O YE D THEM V E R Y M UC H .

E NC L OSED M � C �EC K F O R 8 5 . 00 F OR A YE A R S S UB S C R I P T I O N T O YO UR J OU R NA L A ND THE B A LA NCE A

S M A L L C O N TR I B U T I O N , AS YO U SEE F ! T . PER H A PS I T C A N BE A P PL I ED TO S OM E NEE D Y MEMBER AS TH I S

I S I N RES PONSE TO A HA R D S H I P PLEA I R E A D I N YOUR J OUR NA L .

BES T R E G A R D S A N D H O PE rOR C O N T I NUED L I F E A ND S UCCESS T O YO UR O R G A N I ZA T I O N .

A LF R ED M . S L O TN I C K, 2 163 77 TH S T . B R O O K L Y N , N . V . U . S . A .

ED I T O RS NOT E : THA NKS B I LL F O R YOUR LE T TE R . H O PE S OM E ONE IV I L L A NS WE R I T . I F N O T I W I L L TR Y A ND F I ND

T I ME F OR REB U T TA L LA TER . T H I S I S THE K I ND or LE T TE R I WA N T TO S TA R T A N A R G UM E N T .

A ND THANKS M R . S L O TN I C K F O R YOURS A N D ES PEC I AL L Y F OR YOUR GE NE R O US I T Y I N H EL P I N G THOSE

THA T M I G H T NEED I T . I H O PE WE C A N S TA R T A F UND r O R TH t S PUR POSE • • • WE C A N S TA R T I T W I TH YOUR

D O NA T I O N . T H A N KS AGA I N ,

T H I S A ND T HA T A ND A S TRAD S E C R E T ,

D E A R D O N :

J us T A F E W NO TES THA T M I G H T B E O F I N T ERES T TO A F I D DLE MA KER . I RECEN TL Y F O U N D E NO UGH

M A PLE BURLS A ND L O VE L Y C UR L Y MA PLE TO MA KE 1 00 V I OL I NS , A L L FRES H L Y C U T . I " C O NF I S C A TE D "

M O R E THA N E NO UG H TO F I LL M Y CAR T R U NK A ND W I LL H A VE E N O UG H TO M A KE A B O U T 5 0 NEC KS A ND A LSO

H A V E A LOT or L I T TLE B UR LS F OR M A K I NG PA PER WE I GH TS , B O O K- E NDS , LAM P S TA NDS , E TC .

WE H AVE F O R NE I G H B ORS A M R , & MRS . J . M . L O WE . MR . L O WE I S A P I A N I S T M US I C TEAC H E R A ND

C OM �OSER . MRS . L O WE H A S A V I OL I N BEL I EVED TO BE A GENU I NE A MA T I . M R . PO R TE R EXAM I NE D THE

I NS TR UME N T A ND G A V E H I S O P I N I O N T H A T I T WAS PR OB A B L Y THE R E A L TH I NG . I B E L I E VE I C A N I ND UCE

MR . & MRS . L •. TO V I S I T O UR C L UB A ND BR I NG THE I R I NS TR UME N TS . PER H A PS T H E Y WOULD EVE N C O NSENT TO PLA Y A D UE T FOR Us .

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LETTERS TO THE ED I TOR ( C O N T ' O ) TH I S A ND THA T A ND A S TRAD S ECRE T ( C O N T ' D )

M R , LOWE A LS O K E E PS B EES , HE CALLED I N A F E W DA YS A G O TO LOOK O V E R M Y F I D D L ES A ND

S TA R TE D TO TELL ME A B O U T S TR A D US I NG THE BEE PRODUC T I N H I S V AR N I SH . I SHOWED H I M MR , J OS E PH R E I D ' S L E T TER I N O UR LAS T J O UR NA L . M R . LOWE S A I D H E H A D READ OF I T I N S OM E M US I C A L M A G A Z I NE F I V E YEARS A G O , S O I T S EEMS THERE M US T B E S OM E TH I NG T O I T , M R . L O W E S A YS T H E S UB S T A NC E I S KNOVIN .'<S " PR O PO L I S " A ND I S C OM PO S E D OF PLA N T R E S I NS C O L L E C TED B Y T H E B EES A ND M I X E D W I TH GLA N D U L A R S E CR E T I O NS . T H E B E E S US E I T TO PLUG U P C RAC KS I N THE I R H I V E A ND T H US MA K E I T WEA TH E R PR OOF , HE I S G O I NG TO G E T S O M E F O R M E NEX T T I M E HE H A S THE H I V ES O PE N .

H . B R I GG S , NOR TH B L U F F R O A D R R I , WH I TE RO C K, B , C ,

TH I NK YO U H A V E S OM E TH I NG T H E R E W I TH THA T B E E PRO D UC T, H A R OLD . THA NKS F On YO UR I N T E R ES T I NG LE T T E R . R EM E M B E R V I S I TOR S ARE A LWA YS WELCOME TO O UR MEE T I NOS ,

( ED I TOR , )

LETTER F R OM A S I C K MEMBER .

T o : DO N WH I T E , E D I TOR OF OUR J O UR NA L ,

I F E E L I W I S H TO PA Y YOU A C OM PL I ME N T - F O R YO U R A R T I C L E S O N V I OL I N PLA Y I NG . M OS T O F O UR M EM B E R S M US T A G R EE W I TH YO U, I F THE Y DO N ' T , W E L L L E T THEM PR O V E WHE R E YO U A R E VIR O NG .

I H A V E B E E N VER Y I L L LA TEL Y, S O HA V E NO T BE E N A B L E TO A T T E N D T H E M EE T I NG S . I T WOULD

G I V E ME G R E A T PLEAS U R E , WHE N I F EE L B E T TER , TO WR I TE A L I T T L E A R T I C L E F O R T H E J O UR N A L O N " T H E V I O L I N A ND T H E PH YS I C A L F A C TS TH A T W E M US T KNOW I N OR D E R T O MA KE A GOOD I NS TR UME N T . "

I H O PE I A M N O T G I V I NG YOU THE I DEA THA T I KNOW A LL T H E F A C TS A B O U T " TH E K I NG OF I NS TR UM E N TS " , B U T I T M I GH T BE OF I NT ER E S T TO M A N Y OF YOUR S UB S C R I BE R S .

W I TH B ES T W I S HES T O A L L MEMB E R S .

E R NES T L I NDB E R G , 1 96 - A V E , W . V A N C O U V E R

WE W I LL B E L O O K I NG F O R WA R D TO THA T A R T I C L E , E R N I E . H UR R Y U P A ND G E T WE L L . ( ED I TOR )

LE T T E R S , L I K E THOS E R E C E I V E D TH I S M O N TH , A R E V E R Y WELC OME . WH Y N O T B I T DOWN N O W A ND WR I TE O N E ,

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DON WH I TE , ED I TOR

THE V I O L I N MAKERS ' JOURNAL

PUBL I S HED B Y THE V I O L I N MA KERS ' ASSOC I A T I ON OF BR I T I S H · COLUMB I A

VOLUME I . . . . . . NO . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V A t4C O UV E R , B . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J ULy 1 958 .

MODERN ART ?

T H E S UG G ES T I ON THA T T H E S TA TUE OF C H R I S T S C U L P T U R E D B Y S I R J A C O B E pS TE l r� B E PLAC EO I N

O NE OF" O UR PA R KS I S C A US I NG NO T A L I T TL E C O N TR O V Efi S Y, THE D O UB T B E I NG F" R E E L Y E X PR E S S ED THA T I T I S DEF" I N I TEL Y NO T A W O R K OF" A R T ,

WE H A V E N O I N TEN T I O N , A T . TH I S T I ME , O F PRES E N T I NG A N O P I N I ON AS T O I TS C Ul. TURA l. VA L U E , B U T THE C O N TR O V ER S Y B R I N GS F OR WA R D T H E A R G UM E N T OF M O D E R N A R T VS . T H E O l. D C LA S S I CS .

�JE EX PE R I E N C E THE E F F" EC T OF A R T M OS TL Y AS I T R EA C TS T O S OM E PAS T e X PE R I E NC E . US UA L L Y TH E R E I S S O M E E V E N T, OR EV E N TS , L O C K E D U P I N O UR S UB - C O NSC I O US M I ND WH I C H B E C OM ES RELEAS E D

O N H E A R I NG TO NES PLA C E D I N A C E R TA I N S EQ I E NC E OR PERHA PS B Y T H E SHAD I NG OF T H E A R T I S TS B R US H , T HO S E WHO H A V E S TUD I ED A R T W I LL R E A C T I N T H E S AM E M A NN E R B U T TH I S R E A C T I O N W I L L B E M OD I F I ED SOMEWH A T A S T H E I R C R I T I C A L M I NO W I l.L B E A LE R T .

WHA T OF THE C R EA T I V E A R T I S � H A S H E A NO THER S E NS E OF R EAC T I O N T O A R T ? C A N H E A NT I C I PA TE

EX PER I E N C E A ND WHA T M A K ES H I S E MO T I O NS R E S POND TO M O D E R N C R EA T I V E AR T S UC H AS E pS TE I NS ' C H R I S T ? M US T WE C O ND E M N H I M B E C A U S E WE F A I L TO UND ERS T A ND TH I S RES PO NS E ?

I T WOULD A P PEAR TO US THA T O U R M O D E R N A R T I S TS A R E THE V I C T I MS O F A n ES TLES S A G E , T H E Y

A R � I N S EA R C H O F S OME TH I NG THE Y KNOW N O T WH A T, A ND W E V ER Y M UC H D O UB T THA T E pS TE I N H A S F O UND

I T I N THE S TA TU E OF C HR I S T A N Y M O R E THA N O UR M OD E R N C OM POS ERS HAVE F O U ND I T I N M E C HA N I C A L L Y A R R A NG I NG THE TWEL V E TONE S C A L E .

L I S TE N I NG TO M OD ER N M US I C , WH I C H I NC L UDES J A Z Z , HAS H A D T H E EFF E C T , I N M Y O WN C AS E: , OF

C R EA T I N G S OMEWH A T OF A D I SS A T I S F A C T I ON W I TH THE C LA S S I C S , 1 NO L O N G E R A DM I R E TH E S C R EA M I NG O PE R A T I C S O Pr< A N O A N Y M O R E THAN I D O THE R O C K A ND R OLl. S I NG E R . A R E T H E M OD ER N I S TS GA I N I NG O N

M E ? I F THE Y C O N T I N U E TH E I R PER PE T U A L PO UND I NG O N O UR S ENS ES (F OR W I TH R A D I O A N D TELEV I S j O N

WHO C A N E S C A PE THEM ? ) W I LL N O T S OM E NEW C ON C E P T I O N OF M US I C AR I S E f R O M THE C O I\F" US I O N THA T W I LL S A T I S F Y TH I S R ES TLESS A G E ?

I T I S O UR D UT Y T O B E A S TOLE R A N T A ND BROADM I ND E D AS POS S I BLE T O A L L FORMS O F M OD ER N A R T, R E A L I Z I NG THA T THERE I S N O S UC H T H I NG AS PER F E C T I O N � ONCE WE S UGG ES T THA T T H E C LA S S I CS A R E

PER f EC T T H E N VI E S TA ND S T I LL . r OR T H E S A K E Of T H E A D V A NC EM E N T O F A R T W E D A R E N O T C O ND E M N .A LL THOS E THA T SEEK NEW M E TH ODS OF E X PR ES S I O N .

PRE PI\ RA T I ON or YOUR I NS TRUMENT r O R T H E P . N . E . HOBBY S HOW , B Y D O N WH I TE ,

I T A PPE A R S V E R Y E V I D E N T THA T THE C O M PE T I T I O N A T TH I S YEA R S H O B B Y S H O W Vl I L L B E E X C EED-I NG L Y K E E N . S OM E OF T H E BES T MA KERS O N TH I S C O N T I N E N T , FROM AS F AR A WA Y AS Nrw YOR K, ARE

S END I NG THE I R F I NES T I NS T R UM E N TS , WE I · N T H I S PR OV I NC E WELC O M E TH I S C O M PE T I T I O N A ND EX PEC T O UR H A ND I C R AF T W I LL H O L D THE I R O W N A GA I NS T THE BES T ,

I N C LO S E C O M PE T I T I O N I T I S T H E S M A L L D E TA I LS T H A T T I P TH E B A LA NC E , A V I OL I N THA T H A NDl.ES N I C EL Y, WHOSE PEGS WOR K E A S I L Y A ND H A S THA T C L E A N POL I S H E D L O O K Vl I L L W I N O VER A NO TH E R C A R E­LESS L Y E X H I B I TE D I NS TR UME N T ,

T H E F OL L O W I NG S UGGES T I O NS A R E PRES E N T E D NO T ONL Y T O O UR O W N MEMBERS B U T A LS O T O O UR f R I E ND S F R O M O U T Of TOWN .

I - 9 - I

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PRE PARA T I ON OF" YOUR INS TRUMENT F"OR T HE P . N . E . HOBBY S HOW ( CONT ' D ) T H E SR l OG E . S EE THA T TH E BR I D G E I S A D J US T ED S O THA T THE S TR I NGS ARE THE C ORREC T

HE I GH T f R O M THE F I NG E R B O A R D . I F TH S V A PPEAR TO R I D E H I GH THE TRO UBLE M I GH T BE TO O H I GH A NU T . C H E C K TH I S . T H E N U T S H OU L D O N L Y BE H I G H E N O UG H TO A LL O W A PLA Y I NG CARO TO SL I P EAS I L Y UND ER T H E S TR I NGS , A T TH E N U T . BE S UR E THE BR I DG E I S NO T T O O F LA T . I T I S BE T TER TO HAVE I T

O N TH E R O UND S I DE . M OS T AR T I S TS C A N HA NDLE O NE TO O R OUND B U T G E T A NNO YED I F I T I S TOO F LA T .

T H E PEGS . B E S UR E THE PE G S WOR K EAS I L Y, ES PEC I A LL Y THE G A ND D . , ( YO U C A N PUT

A D J US T E R S O N THE A A ND E. ) . HA R D WOR K I NG, S L I P P I 'G Pt:GS ARE N O T A PPREC i A TE D BY THE J UDGES . A L S O S UC H A V I O L I N W I LL BE HARD TO K E E P I N T U N E . A V I OL I N I N PERf E C T TUNE S O UNDS BE T TER .

S PE C I A L " D O PE " C A N BE B O UG H T A T M US I C S TO R ES TO A PPL Y TO PEGS WH I C H M A KES THErJl S L I DE E A S I L Y

A ND A T T H E S AME T I M E M A KES THEM G R I P .

C H I N R ES T . BE S UR E TO S U P PL Y YOUR V I O L I N W I TH A C H I N R ES T . Yo u C A N N O T EX PEC T T H E

J UD G E S TO PUi y I T PR O PER L Y W I TH O U T O NE .

S TR I N GS . A G O OD I NS TR U M E N T D E S E R VES TH E V E R Y BES T Of S TR I NGS . I R EC OMMEND PU T T I NG

O N A NEW S E T Of S TR I NG S A T LEAS T TWO W E E KS BEf OR E T H E J UDG I NG . Dc N O T M A KE TH E M I S TA KE OF

PUT T I NG O N A NEW S E T A f E W D A YS B E f O R E THE S HO W . L E T THEM G E T W E L L S T R E TC H E D A ND WORKED I N .

S EE THA T THE Y A R E NO T " LO A D E D " W I TH R ES I N, I f TH E Y A h E R EMOV E S A M E . BEF R E YO U PU T YOUR I NS TR UME N T I N I TS CAS E f OF. THE S H O W , R UB E A C H S TR I NG , WHER e; I T I S PLA YED UPO N , O NC E OR TVI I C E

W I TH A C A KE or RES I N . WH E N THE J UD G E A T TA C KS TH E S E S TR I NG S TH E Y W I LL THEN G I V E I MMED I A TE

RES PO NS E .

Po L I S H I NG . S E E TH A T YOUR I NS TR UM E N T I S I MM A C UL A TEL Y C L E A N . T H E f i N G ER- B OAR D A ND

A L S O UNDER THE F I NG e R B O A R D A ND UNDER T H E TA I L P I EC E S H O UL D N O T BE f O RGO T TE N . G O O D V I OL I N

POL I S H C A N B E B O UGH T B U T S OM E M A KER S use; OL I V E O I L F OR POL I S H I NG . O THERS us e; WAX AND EV E N

S H O E RO L I S H . TH E BES T POL I S H I S O NE THA T W I LL NO T S H O W f i NG ER M A R KS Af TER H A ND L I NG THE I NS T R UM E N T .

A T TE N T I O N T O A LL THE A BO V E W I LL G I V E YOUR " MA S TER P I EC E " THE C H A NC E I T D E S ER VES . THE

V E R Y BES T Of L UC K TO YOU A L L i

BEA UT Y I S I N T H E E YE OF T H E BEHO LD ER . KEA TS •

R E PO R T OF THE H O B B Y S H O W C OMM I T T E E

O UR LAS T ME E T I NG W A S C O M PL ET E L Y TA K E N U P W I TH A D I SC US S I O N O N T H E C OMM I T TEE RE POR T OF PR O G R E S S .

S A T I Sf AC T I ON WAS E X PR ES S ED O N THE MA NNER THA T TH E C O MM I T TEE WAS H A ND L I NG THE M A N V

PR O B LEMS AR I S I NG F ROM C H A NGES I N T H E M E TH O D O f J U D G I NG A N D THE EX TRA LARGE D I S PLA Y BE I NG

ARRA NGED .

T H E MA J OR I T Y OF THE MEMBERS f E L T THA T GES I DES THE THR E E J UDGES A L R EAO V S UG G ES T E D THEf1E

S H O U L D B E A J U D G E f O R WOR KM A NS H I P A L O NE . T H E C OMM I T TEE PR O M I S E D TO DO THE I R BES T TO S E C UR E

A V i O L I N MA KER T O D C TH I S P AR T O F THE A D J UD I C A T I NG .

I T WAS A L S O D E C I D E D TO H A V E A D J UD I C A T I O N S H EE TS PR I N TED . T H E S E WOULD B E f I LLE D O U T B Y THE J U D G ES A ND � I LL S H O W T H E D i f F E R E NT M A R /<S , on PO I N TS , OB TA I NED B Y THE PA R T I C ULAR I NS TR UMENT .

T H E R E W I L L BE A S PA C E f O R GENERAL R EM A R KS a v THE J UDGES , We: W I LL I N TH I S WA Y KNOW THE S TR O NG

A ND WEA K PO I N TS OF" O UR I NS TR UM E N T S .

A V ER Y H E A TED D EB A TE TO O K PLAC E O VER THE A L L O T M E N T Of T H E D l rF ER E NT MARKS T O BE G I VE N .

F I NA L L Y TH E f OL L O W I NG WE R E D E C I D E D U PO N .

T O NE Q UA L I T V

B y TH E PLA YER • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3 5 PO I N TS

B v THE L 1 S TE N E fl • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3 5 PO I N TS

70

WO R KM A NS H I P, E TC .

G E NE R A L WOR KMA NS H i P . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 PO I N TS

V A R N I S H I 'G A ND F I N i S H • • • • • • • • • • • 1 5 PO I N TS

30 T O TA L OF 1 00 PO J N TS

D O N WH I TE TO OK THE S TA ND THA T TH ES E PO I N TS W E R E UNBALA NC E D , S TA T I NG TH A T TO NE S H O UL D

C O U N T E V E N U P T O 90% O F THE TO TA L M A R KS G I VE N ,

WH I L E ADM I R I NG G O O D W O R KMA NS H I P , H E D E C LARED TH A T A V I O L I N WAS M A D E fOR O NE PUR POSE, A ND

I - 9 - 2

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R E PO R T OF THE H O B BY S H O W (C ON T ' D )

O N E A L O N E , NAMEL Y TO B E PLA YED U PO N A ND THA T TO NE S H O UL D O V E R R ULE EVER Y TH I NG . T H I S D EB A Te:

WAS E N J O YE D B Y A L L . T H e: M E E T I NG WAS PL E A S ED T O H EA R THA T MA N Y I NS TR UM E NTS W E R E B E I NG S E N T TO O UR S H O W F ROM

D I S TA N T PO I N TS , G I V I NG TH E S HOW Q U I T E AN I N T E R NA T I O N A L AS PEC T .

D O N WH I T E A NN OUNCro THA T H E VIAS �R E S E N T I N G A PER PE TUA L T R O PH Y F O R " T H E BES T T O NED

V I OL I N M A D E BY A M EMBER O F THE V I O L I N M A KERS ' A S S O C I A T I O N O F B . C . " . T H I S W I LL BE K N O W N AS

" TH E D O N WH I TE T R O PH Y" .

M EMB ERS A R E U R G E D T O 00 THE I R U TM OS T TO M A KE O UR D I S PLA Y A R E A L S UC C ES S . R EM EM B E R THA T

THE J UD G I NG W I LL TA KE PLA C E A B O U T A UG US T 1 0TH , S O ! " I T I S L A TER THA N YO U TH I N I<" ,

NO T I C E TO NO N-S UBS C R I BERS .

WE A R E SOf1R Y B U T TH I S W I LL e E T H E LAS T F R E E C O py OF T H E V I O L I N MA KERS J O UR NAL THA T We: C A N A F F OR D TO S E ND YO U , T H E S UB S C R I PT I O N O F $ 1 , 50 PEn YEAR O NL Y J US T C O V ERS T H E C O S T OF

PR O D UC T I ON A ND O UR G E NERA L F UNDS A R E NO T TOO F L US H ,

I F YO U L I KE THE J O UR NA L A N D WO U L D L I KE , THROUGH I TS PA GES , TO K E E P I N T O U C H W I TH OUR

A C T I V I T I ES WH Y N O T D R O P US A L I NE TOD A Y E NC L OS I NG YO UR S UB S C R I PT I O N , T H E ED I T OR ,

T H I S DOES N O T A PP L Y T O M EMB E R S OF OUR A S S OC I A T I ON WHO R EC E I V E I T F R E E ,

CONC LUS I O N OF " THE PO�TAMENTO" B y D O N WH I TE .

0 ,

T H E NO TE U PO N VIH I CH I '

C LO S E D M Y LAS T A R T I C LE VIAS I NT E N D E D TO S UM U P M Y THE O R Y, WH I CH I S ,

THA T AS L O NG AS A V I OL I N I S T W i S HES TO PRO D UC E A S I NG I NG TONE H E W I LL D EF I N I TELY I M I T A TE THE

H UMA N V O I C E A ND I N SO D O I NG W I L L D EC I D E D L Y US E I N H I S T E CH N I Q UE B O TH T H E V I B R A T O A ND THE

POR TAME N T O ,

T H E TE!'.:HN I QUE OF" T H E POR TAME N T O I S S O V A R I ED THA T I T I S A LM OS T ' I M POSS I B L E TO LA Y D OW N A N Y D E F I N I TE R U L ES E X C E PT THA T I T S H O U L D NEV Efl B E S O S LO W A ND H EAV Y, F R OM O NE NO TE TO

A N O T H E R , A S TO S O UN D L I KE A R UD E S LUR , i T I S G E NERA LL Y DONE 6 0 DEL t C A T E L Y TH A T THE A UD I E NC e:

I S HA R D L Y A WA R E OF I TS PR E SE NC E , B U T TH E I MM O T I ONAL E F F E C T I S TH E R E N EV E R TH E L ES S .

WH E R E THE N O TES A R E C L O S E TOGE THER i T I S M O R E OF A MOULD I NG OF O N E N O T E I N TO A N O TH E R

T H A N A D I S T I NC T G L I DE O R POR TAM E N T O . I T I S VIH E N WE C OM E T O TH I RDS Of� M OR E THA T G R E A T C A R E

M US T B E E X E R C I S E D , F O R I T I S I N TH E S E D I S TA NC ES THA T THE V i OL I N I S T HAS G I VE N TH E P O R TAME N TO S UCH A B A D NAM E ,

T H E POR TAM E N TO I S G E N E R A L L Y USED ON DESCf:ND I NG PA S S A GES B U T CA N A L S O B E US E D T O EFF EC T

O N A S C E N D I NG , O N A D ES C E ND I NG PAS S A G E OF S A Y F I F THS T H E S TA R T I NG F I NG E R S T R O KE S THE S TR I NG

F I RM L Y F OR ONL Y A B OU T TWO OESC END I NO NOTES T H E N A LMOS T L EAVES THE S TR I NG I N PR E PA R A T I O N F O R

T H E A T TA C K O N THE L OW NOTE . I T MA Y B E TA KE N A LMOS T A S A R ULE THA T TH E POR TAMEN TO N E V E R E NOS

W I TH THE US E OF O NL Y ONE F I NG E R O N L Y , A F T E R E A S I NG UP ON TH E S TR I NG THE L O W NO T E M US T B E

A L R E A D Y S TO PPED B Y A N O TH£R F I NG ER O R THE O PE N S TR I NG , T H I S I S WH Y TH E POR TAM E N T O C A N B e: S l'CG I:..SS,.-,Ju_ .... · A"'C; UM P U SHED FROM O NE s m I NG T O A NO THEr"

T HE R E A R E TWO ME THODS I N G E NE RA L USE O N T H E A S C E ND I NG PAS S A G E , YOU M A Y S TA R T S L I D I NG U P,

PRESS I NG F I RM F O R TWO NO T E S OR S O A ND T H E N E A S E U P A ND A T TA C K T H E H I GH NO T E F I RM L Y, T H E

S E C O ND M E THOD I S S I M PL Y TO L E A V E TH E L O W NO T E A ND S L I D E I NTO T H E H I GH O N E , YO U W I LL H A V E T O

US E G R E A T C A R E OR I T Vi I L L A PPEA R A S I F YOU W E R E F E E L I NG f OR T H E H I GH N O T E A ND W E R E NO T S U R E OF I T . I T I S V E R Y EFF EC T I VE I F D O N E D E L I CA TE L Y ,

O N E C A N G E T A G O O D EX A M PL E O F POR rA M E N TO B Y L I S TEN I NG T O A C E L L O S OL O , a U T MOS T

C EL L I S TS O V E R D O I T , H E NC E T H E I M PR ES S I ON G I V E N OF S L UR R I NG A N D S L I D I NG A R O UND , T H E C ELL I S T HAS TO E X E R T EX TREME C A R E A ND PLA Y W I TH C OM PLE T E C O N T R O L OR H I S POR TA M E N TO W I LL A PP E A R

E X A G G ERA T E D .

T H E V I O L I N I S T S H OULD C O N T I NUA L L Y L I S TE N TO G O OD S I NG I NG , H E W I LL F I NO THE R E 8 0 TH THE

V I B R A TO A ND THE POR TAMEN T O . F OR E X A GG E R A TED E F F E C TS LE T H I M L I S TE N TO O PERA T I C S I NG E R S B U T

F O R C O N T R O LLED S I NG I NG H E W I LL NO T F I ND A B E T TER EXAM PLE THA N T H E DEL I G H TF U4 S I NG I NG OF

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CONCLUS I ON OF " T HE PORTAMENTO" ( C ON T ' D )

R I C HARD C R O OKS , HERE WE F I ND A C OM PLE TEL Y CO NTROLLED VO I C E , EVER Y PHRASE A N D I TS SHAD I NG HAS A D EF I N I TE PLA N , N O TE ES PEC I AL L Y H I S B EA U T I F UL F A LS E T T O ,

I N A F UTURE AR T I CLE I WOULD L I KE T O G O I N TO TH I S S UB J EC T O F CONTROL F O R I T I S , T O M Y M I ND , THE MA I N D I FF ERENC E B E TWEEN THE SENT I M E N TA L PLA Y I NG O f F IF T Y YEARS AGO C O M PARED W I TH THE CONTROLLED PERFORMANCE OF THE PRESENT D A Y A R T I S TS .

D I D YO U HEAR THE SAO S TO R Y OF THE TWO REO C OR PUSCLES WHO L I VED I N VE I N?

T H E K I NG OF I NS TR UMENTS B y ERNES T L I NDBERG I WOULD L I KE TO PR ESE N T S OME OF THE F A C TS THA T WE M US T KNOW I N ORDER TO MAKE A V I O L I N

THA T W I LL EQUAL THE BES T M A D E B Y S TRAD I V I VA R I . V I OL I NS HA V E B E E N M A D E F R OM D I FF ERENT M A TER I A LS , NAMEL Y, G LASS A ND M E TA LS , A ND EVEN RAW

C OWH I DE , B U T S PR UC E ' A ND MA PLE HAVE BEEN f OUND THE B ES T. S OM E V I OL I NS HAVE BEEN MADE VER Y TH I N A ND SOME TH I C K, W I THOUT DUE R EGARD F O R C ELL S TR UC TURE A ND D E NS I T Y OF THE WOOD A ND HAVE B E E N F O UND I NFER I OR .

T H E B ES T MA TER I AL F OR TO PS I S WELL S EA S O NED S PR UC E W I TH YEA R R I NGS ABOUT O N E S I X TEENTH TO THRE E TH I R T Y S ECONDS A ND VER Y F I RM MA PLE F OR THE BACKS . WE F I NO THA T I f WE S ELEC T THE MA TER I AL W I TH A PRO PER D E NS I T Y AND C A R Ef UL L Y F OLLOW THE BLUE PR I NTS M A D E FROM THE B ES T V I OL I NS M A D E B Y S TRA D , R E , SHA PE A ND S I ZE (ABOUT 1 26 C UB I C I NCHES OF A I R S PA C E ) WE G E T A NODA L TONE A B O U T THE NO TE C I N THE T O P WHEN WE TH I N I T TO A TH I C KNESS Of O NE E I GH TH OR SEVEN S I X T Y-F O UR THS . THE BACK B E I NG DENS ER TO O NE NOTE H I GHER E . G . D , THE TH I C KNESS Of PLA TES D E PENDS ON THE D E NS I T Y OF THE WOODS WE US E , ' WE MA Y G E T THE B ES T R ES U L TS BY HAV I NG THE PLA TES B FOR THE ' TO P A ND 0 F LA T FOR THE BACK, BECA US E OF THE CHANGE I N P I TCH S I NC E M E N EX PER I ME N T E D W I TH T H E V I OL I NS THA T C A M E f ROM THE WOR KS H O PS Of C R EM O NA , OVER 200 YEARS AGO � THESE M E N LEf T US A NUMBER OF BOOKS F OR US TO S TUD Y A ND PONDER OVER . ' THESE W I LL. H E L P US I f W E A R E NO T TOO " B ULL-HE�DE D " AND TH I NK THA T W E KNOW H O W T O MAKE V I O L I NS B E T TE R THA N THOSE " OL D FOG I ES " AT C R EM ONA , I f WE D E PA R T VER Y FAR F R OM THE FAC TS THA T THE Y GA I NE D (S PEND I NG THE I R WHOLE L I F E I N MAK I NG V I OL I NS ) I T S EEMS TO ME WE W I LL MAKE A G R EA T M I S TA KE A ND W I LL B E I N D A NGER OF BE I NG D I SA PPO I NTED W I TH O UR " BR A ND NEW f i D DLE WHEN W E G E T T H E S TR I NGS O N I T ,

WE HAVE M A D E GREA T PR OGRESS I N THE LAS T 200 YEARS B U T S T I LL " TH E K I NG OF A L L I 'NSTR UMENTS " S EEM ALMOS T A S G R EA T A M YS TER Y A S EVER ,

LET TER F ROM MR . BURTON HA TF I ELD DEAR DO N :

I L I KE YOUR PUB L I CA T I ON A ND ONL Y W I S H I COULD A T TEND YOUR M EE T I NGS , I KNOVI YOU M US T LEAD A VER Y B US Y L I F E AND I T I S GOOD O F YOU TO A NS WE R M Y LE T TERS ,

I AM I N TOUCH W I TH M R . E , H , S A NGS TER WHO BEL I EV ES HE HAS THE VAR N I SH US ED B Y TH E I TA L I AN MA KERS . MA I NL Y L I NS EE D O I L, WHA T THE Y PUT I N I T , H E SA YS , I S A N YB OD YS G UESS--F I R R ES I N, LARCH , P I NE OR MAS T I C G UM , E TC .

WHA T I S PU T O N THE V I OL I N F I RS T HAS MORE TO D O W I TH TONE THAN A N YTH I NG E LS E , S O I AM D O I NG WHA T HE S A YS , ON THE V I OL I N I HAVE J US T F I N I SHED I PU T O N A GOOD C OA T OF R EF I NED L I NS EED O I L AND THA T HAS T O D R Y I N THE SUN S I X WEEKS TO EX I D I S E . I T WAS WR I T TEN ' ON A PR I L 24 TH , L638 THA T A V I OL I N C O ULD NO T B E BROUGH T TO PERF EC T I ON W I THOUT THE S TR O NG H EA T OF THE S UN, HE S A YS TH I S I S J US T AS TR UE TODA Y AS I T WAS THE N , BES T W I S H ES TO YOUR C L UB ,

B U R T HA Tf I ELD, C OM OX , B , C , . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . PULLMA N PASS ENGER : " OH POR TER � YOU M I X ED U P M Y SHOES , ONE ' S BLACK A ND O NE ' S TA N ! " POR TER . . . . . . . . . . . . " LAWD Y, H OW D ' YA L I KE THA T � D I S I S D E SECO ND T I M E DA T ' S HA P PENED

D I S MAWN I N �"

F I FT Y YEARS OF V I O L I N MA K I NG B Y E , H , S A NGS TER

ED I TORS NOT E : WE A DM I' RE M R , S A NGS TE R ' S M O D ES T Y REGA RD I NG H IS S UCCESS , ONE OF H I S V I OL I NS

I - 9 - 4

FIFTY YEARS OF VIOLIN MAKING ( CONT'D )

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WAS USED BY DR. SAUNDERS DURING TESTS MADE WITH MODERN VIOLINS AND SOME OF THE BEST STRADS. IN ALL TESTS MR� SANGSTER'S WORK PROVED EQUAL TO THE STRADS. MR. SANGSTER IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE LEADING VIOLIN MAKERS ON THIS CONTINENT TODAY. WE ARE VERY PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT HIS REMARKS • • • A VIOLIN MAKER WITH NO SECRETS� D.W.

I WISH I COULD DELIVER THIS TALK IN PERSON TO YOUR ASSOCIATION, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE AT PRESENT SO I WILL WRITE AND GIVE TO YOU MY EXPERIENCES OF OVER FIFTY YEARS.

I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE FORMED AN ASSOCIATION ON VIOLIN MAKING. IF ALL THE VIOLIN MAKERS IN AMERICA HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER YEARS AGO AND POOLED THEIR KNOWLEDGE WE WOULD BE FAR AHEAD TODAY IN THIS NOBLE ART.

THERE ARE TWO BOOKS WHICH GIVE MORE INFORMATION THAN ALL THE OTHERS PUT TOGETHER. "THE LIFE AND WORK OF STRADIVARI" BY HILL AND SONS, AND "ITALIAN VIOLIN VARNISHES" BY GEO. FRY. ALL VIOLIN MAKERS WOULD 00 WELL TO STUDY THEM THOROUGHLY�

LET US �TART OFF WITH WHAT WE KN6w:- TODAY WE HAVE WOOD EQUAL TO ANYTHING USED BY THE OLD ITALIANS, WE HAVE THEIR DIMENSIONS AND THEIR THICKNESSES AND DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VIOLIN MAKERS SUCH AS LUPOT. VUILHAUME AND THE HILLS WHO HAVE MADE EXACT COPIES, BUT 010 NOT GET THE TONE QUALITY, SO IT IS NONE OF THESE THINGS. THE.OLD ITALIAI\S MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT COULD IT BE?

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO I HAD OCCASION TO TAKE OFF THE TOP OF A FINE OLD WELL WORN FRENCH VIOLIN. WHERE THE VARNISH WAS WORN OFF THE RIB ON THE UPPER RIGHT HAND SIDE THE PERSPIRATION HAD COME RIGHT THROUGH THE RIB. Now I HAVE TAKEN THE TOPS OFF MANY WELL WORN ITALIAN VIOLINS BUT NO PERSPIRATION EVER CAME THROUGH THE RIBS. THIS TOLD ME ONE THING: THE OLD ITALIANS

MUST HAVE PUT SOMETHING ON THE VIOLIN THAT WAS IMPERVIOUS TO DAMPNESS--WHAT COULD IT BE? ONLY ONE· THING-RAW LINSEED OIL- THE ONLY OIL THAT WILL OXIOlZE AND HARDEN. ( BOILED OiL IS NOT GOOD, ·IT WILL ·NOT

· PENETRATE ) . FOR ME TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS THE SO CALLEO SECRET OF'

THE OLD MASTERS IS FOOL ISH. I DON'T KNOW AND ('/0 ONE ELSE DOES FOR THERE WASN'T ANY SECRET, THEY ALL KNEW WHAT TO D O, SOME WITH MORE SUCCESS THAN OTHERS. I AM SURE THEY ALL USED RAW

LINSEED OIL-BUT WHAT DID THEY USE WITH IT, IF ANYTHING? THEY COULD HAVE USED TURPENTINE MIXED WITH FIR RESIN, PINE RESIN, LARCH RESIN, CQPAL, MASTIC OR EVEN BENZOIN.

(NOTE BY THE EDITOR: "PERHAPS PROPOLIS AS SUGGESTED IN OUR JUNE ISSUE'! ) My EXPERIENCE SO FAR GIVES BEST RESULTS WITH:- 3 OZS, PINE RESIN DILUTED WITH 3 OZS. PURE TURPENTINE. THIN 2 OZS. OF THIS MIXTURE WITH 2 OZS. RAW LINSEED OIL. WITH YOUR VIOLIN IN THE WHITE, GO ALL OVER IT WITH A GOOD COAT, NECK SCROLL AND ALL. LET IT OXiDIZE IN THE OPEN AIR, HANGING IT ON A CLOTHES LINE FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS. THEN VARNISH.

IF YOU USE STRAD'S THICKNESSES: ToP Six AND A HALf" SIXTY-FOURTHS IN CENTRE SIX SIXTY­FOURTHS AT PURFLING .... BACK TEN SIXTY-FOURTHS IN CENTRE AND SiX SIXTY-FOURTHS AT PURFLING YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT THE TONE QUALITY, VOLUME AND EASE OF ARTICULATION ABOVE THE THIRD

POSITION AND THIS IS ALL THAT MAKES A REAL FINE VIOLIN.

JUST LET ME KNOW THE DATE AND I WILL BE VERY PLEASED TO SEND A VIOLIN TO THE HOBBY SHOW. I AM SORRY IT IS SO FAR AWAY OR I WOULD T,L\KE IT UP MVSELf" AND MEET THE "BOYS" AND TALK

VIOLINS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INTERESTED IN BUYING AND SELLING OLD VIOLINS, MY WHOLE INTEREST IS TO f"IND OUT WHAT THE OLD I TALIANS DID TO GIVE THEIR VIOLINS THAT BEAUTIFUL TONE. I HAVE SPENT OVER FORTY YEARS IN TRYING TO MAKE A VIOLIN EQUAL TO A STRAD. AND HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED YET, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE EXPERTS SAY I HAVE. ( I WILL HAVE TO RESERVE JUDGEMENT .

TELL YOUR MEMBERS THAT I WILL BE GLAD TO TELL ANYTHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THESE MANY YEARS. I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP IN THE MAKING OF BETTER VIOLINS, WITH BEST WISHES.

LETTER FROM OUR V I CE PRES I DENT

To THE EDITOR: DEAR SIR:

E.H. SANGSTER, DALLAS, TEXAS.

LATELY I HAVE BEEN GIVING A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT ABOUT STIMULATING THE PLAYING OF' THE VIOLIN AND ITS ATTENDANT FAMILY, I.E. VIOLA, CELLO AND BASS.

WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE MUSIC STORES IN OUR CITY, ONE FINDS THAT THEIR SHOW WINDOWS ARE f"ULL OF SAXAPHONES, GUITARS, TRUMPETS, ETC., ETC. AD INFINITUM BUT SELDOM IS A VIOLIN SEEN, OR IF IT IS, IT IS STUCK AWAY IN A CORNER AS IF THEY WERE ASHAMED OF IT.

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LETTER FROM OUR VICE PRESIDENT (CONT'D) ArTER LISTENING TO SO MUCH NON MUSICAL RUBBISH WHICH COMES OVER RADIO AND TELEV I SION,

CAN QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. PSVCOLOGICALLY SPEAKING I FEEL CERTAIN THAT SO MUCH OF THE DtSONANCE OF SCREAMING TRUMPETS, VARIOUS TYPES OF HORNS, GUI TARS AND SAXAPHONES CAN NOT HELP BUT HAVE A VERY DELETER 10US EFFECT ON OUR YOUTH, THIS CACOPHONY OF NOISE IS BOUND TO CAUSE MENTAL A8ERRATION TO A GREATER OR LESSER DEGREE, IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THERE IS ANY TENDENCY TO MENTAL IMBALANCE,

THUS I THINK WE SHOULD ALL GET OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO THINK UP SOME WAY IN WHICH WE COULD BRING THIS BEfORE THE PUBLIC NOT ONLY TO SELL SOME VERY GOOD VIOLINS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IN OUR OWN WAY HELP TO KEEP THE JAILS EMPTY OF THE YOUNGSTERS.

H.G. HEYWORTH, L683 RENFREW ST., VANCOUVER. NOTE: WE HEARTILY AGREE WITH YOUR IDEA AND BELIEVE THAT PART OF OUR DUTIES SHOULD BE

ADVERTISING THE PLSASURE TO BE DERIVED fROM THE PLAYING OF VIOLINS, ETC. LET US BRING THESE WORTH WHILE INSTRUMENTS OUT OF THEIR HIDING PLACE. EDITOR,

LETTER FROM LONG I SLAND DEAR DON:

RECEIVED THE JOURNAL WHICH I ENJOYED VERY IMMENSELY, I HAVE NOT AS YET MADE A VIOLIN BUT EXPECT TO SOON. I HAVE BEEN READING MR, REID'S BOOK AND WAS PLEASED TO HEAR FROM YOUR JOURNAL THAT HE IS WILLING TO BE HELPFUL. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY VIOLIN REPAIR MEN IN THE HOPE OF FINDING INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT, BUT ONLY LEARNED THAT THEIR INfORMATION WAS A SECRET.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK WITH YOUR JOURNAL. WE HOBBY BOyS REALLY NEED IT. YOURS SINCERELY, DOMINICH BUTERA, LL9 LIBERTY AVE., PORT JEFfERSON.

"CLOTHES 00 NOT MAKE THE MAN" 8 Y PERR Y S. MILLAR

NOR IN OUR HUMBLE SUBMISSION, DOES APPEARANCE MAKE A VIOLIN. THESE PROfOUND THOUGHTS ARE EVOKED BY THE DECISION REACHED AT THE LAST MEETING OF OUR

ASSOCIATION, WHEREBY THE FOLLOWING POINT SYSTEM WAS APPROVED FOR THE JUDGING OF INSTRUMENTS AT THE r.N.E. EXHIBIT IN AUGUST:

TONE JUDGED BY THE PLAYER 35% WORKMANSHIP .15% TONE JUDGED BY THE LISTENER 35% FINISH 15;� As VIOLIN MAKERS WE MAY THINK THAT TONE IS ONLY TWO THIRDS OF THE BATTLE, BUT ANY

GROUP OF MUSICIANS WOULD, WE THINK, REFUSE TO ACCEPT SUCH A PROPOSITION. WHICH OPINION IS THE MORE VALID, THAT OF THE PLAYER OR THAT OF THE�?

THE VIOLINIST wILL INSIST THAT THE MELDED EFFECT OF TONE AND ARTICULATION COMBINED ARE THE ONLY THINGS THilT REALLY MATTER WHEN A MUSICIAN TOUCHES HIS BOW TO THE INSTRUMENT, AND THEY ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT CAN EVER MATTER.

WHAT IS SOMETIMES NOT FULLY APPRECIATED, IS THAT A COMPETENT VIOLINIST, BRIEFLY TESTING TWO VIOLINS IN A SMALL ROOM, OR EVEN A MEDIUM-SIZED HALL, CAN FREQUENTLY PRODUCE TO THE HEARER AN ALMOST EQUALLY PLEASING RESULT ON THE INFERIOR INSTRUMENT. BUT THIS TEMPORARY ILLUSION DOES NOT PROVE THAT THE TWO INSTRUMENTS ARE LARGELY EQUAL IN QUALITY. SUCH A SUMMARY TEST CANNOT POSSIBLY MEASURE THOSE ULTIMATE QUALiTIES OF CHAMPIONSHIP, NAMELY TONAL VOLUME, CARRYING POWER, AND LONG-TERM STAMINA.

WE ALL KNOW OF OLD AND BATTERED MASTERPIECES WHICH COULD CLAIM FEW MARKS ON GROUNDS OF WORKMANSHIP AND F"EWER ON FINISH, THUS UNDER THE PRESENT APPROVED SYSTEM OF MARKING, THESE TREASURES OF THE AGES WOULD COME OFF RATHER BADLY AGAINST INSTRUMENTS WHICH ARE REALLY INFERIOR, ESPECIALLY IF THE COMPETITION TAKES PLACE IN ANYTHING BUT A LARGE AUDITORIUM. THESE fACTORS IN COMBINATION COULD ONLY PRODUCE THE MOST PERVERSE RESULT IF MANY SO-CALLED "OLD MASTERS" WERE ENTERED IN THE COMPETITION WITHOUT THE UNEARNED INCREMENT OF THEIR FAMOUS LABELS,

IT IS NOT UNNATURAL - INDEED IT IS EVEN HEALTHY - THAT WE AS VIOLIN MAKERS SHOULD EXPRESS OUR REVERENCE FOR WORKMANSHIP IN THE STARK SENSE Of CABINET MAKING. IF WE ABANDON THE HIGHEST &TANOARDS OF MECHANICAL WORKMANSHIP, WE SHOULD INDEED SHORTLY PERISH AS INSTRUMENT MA KERS • I T IS PERHA PS WELL TO RECOGN I ZE HOWEVER, THA T BY THE S YS TEM OF MARK I NG WE HAVE ADOPTED, WE ARE NOT JUDGING VIOLINS SO MUCH AS VIOLIN MAKERS; AND THERE IS A DI�FERENCE.

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"CLOTHES DO NOT MAKE THE MAN" ( CONT'D ) NOT THAT THIS WRITER IS UNHAPPY WITH THE PRESENT STATE OF THINGS, AS OUR CHAIRMAN

STATED DURING THE AGONY OF DEBATE UPON THE SUBJECT-- "AFTER ALL, ITS THE SPORT OF THE THING,"

.... . .. WE S TAND CORRECTED

MRS, MARTHA KOZAK HAS DRAWN OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT IN THE TEST OF OLD MASTER V I OL I NS AND MODERN INS TR UMF:N TS THE PROBLEM FOR THE A UD I ENCE VIAS NO T TO PICK THE BES T TO NED VIOLIN BUT TO DISTINGUISH THE ITALIAN TONE FROM MODERN TONE,

SHOULD THE TEST HAVE BEEN FOR THE FINEST TONED INSTRUMENT THE MODERN VIOLINS MIGHT WELL HAVE PROVED VICTORIOUS,

K I NO DONAT I ON OF BOOKS

MRS, ARTHUR ROCKWELL, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE "DOC" PORTER, HAS EXPRESSED THE DESIRE THAT SEVERAL OF THE BOOKS ON VIOLIN MAKING AND ON OLD VIOLINS WHICH F ORMED PART OF THE LATE MR. PORTER'S LIBARY BE TURNED OVER TO THE VIOLIN MAKERSI ASSOCIATION"TO FORM THE NUCLEUS OF A VIOLIN LIBRARY WHICH WILL BE UNDER THE CHARGE OF MR� FLOYD HOLLY.

WE WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF THANKING MRS, ROCKWELL FOR SUCH A THOUGHTFUL ACTION AND IT WOULO BE VERY FITTING IF THIS LIBRARY WERE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE "DOC" POR TER.

T HE COMMUNI TY ARTS COUNCIL

AT OUR NEXT MEETING WE HOPE TO HAVE A SPEAKER FROM THE COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL, THIS

ORGANIZATION IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL GROUPS OF CRAFTSMEN BANOED TOGETHER TO SOLVE COMMON PRO­BLEMS, SUCH AS MARKETING, ADVERTISING, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, ETC,

IT WILL BE AN EDUCATION TO LEARN HOW OTHER CRAFTSMEN HANDLE THEIR PROBLEMS AND WE MIGHT FIND IT BENEFICIAL TO BELONG TO SUCH AN ORGANIZATION,

WHEN THE ARTS COUNCIL HEARD OF THE NATURE OF OUR ASSOCIATION THEY WERE VERY INSISTENT THAT WE SEND A DELEGATE TO THE ARTS RESOURCES CONFERENCE WHICH WAS HELD ON JUNE 26-27-28TH AT THE U.B,C. THERE BEING NO TIME IN WHICH TO CALL AN EXECUTIVE MEETING YOUR PRESIDENT APPOINTED DON WHITE TO ATTEND AS A DELEGATE,

WE ARE SORRY THAT A REPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT CONFERENCE CANNOT BE PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE AS WE GO "TO PRESS" IMMEDIATELY, A SHORT REPORT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MEMBERSHIP AT THE NEXT MEETING AND ONE IN PRINTED F"ORM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR SUBSCRIBERS, IN THE NEXT ISSUE,

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE, BY THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, MADE THIS THE LARGEST AND, WE HOPE, THE MOST INTERESTING ISSUE YET PRODUCED,

REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR PAPER, LET US HEAR F"ROM YOU, WRITE ON ANY SU8JECT RELATIVE T O STRING INSTRUMENTS O R MUSIC THAT YOU WISH.

THE OF"F"ICER IN CHARGE OF" THE FIRING SQUAD ADDRESSED THE PRISIONER; "SHALL WE BLINDFOLD YOU?" HE ASKED, "No" WAS THE REPL � "BLINDFOLD THE FIRING SQUAD,"

HEAR ABOUT THE BOWLEGGED COWGIRL WHO HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING HER CALVES TOGETHER?

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DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE V IOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITIS H COLUMBIA

VOI,.UME I • • • • • • NO. lO • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • VANCOUVER, B.C • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • AUGUST , L958

EDITORIAL

JUSTIFIABLE PR IDE

THE EXHIBIT WHICH WE AS AN ASSOCIATION WILL PRESENT AT THE HOBBY SHOW THIS MONTH WILL,

WE FEEL CONFIDENT, BE ONE OF WHICH WE MAY ALL 6E JUSTIFIABLY.PROUD.

IT MAY BE WELL, HOWEVER, FOR US TO REA-LIZE JUST WHAT THIS WORD "JUSTIFIABLE" INDICATES.

AS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WE WILL NOT DESERVE THE HONOR OF ENJ OYING THIS FEELING OF PRIDE

UNLESS WE HAVE JUSTIFIED OURSELVES IN ITS CREATION. THE ONUS, THEREFORE; IS PIN-POINTED RIGHT ON THE INDIVIDUAL,

PERHAPS WE MAY BE ALLOWED TO REPEAT AN OFT MENTIONED PROVERB: "A CHAIN IS ONLY AS

STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK," AS MEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION IT IS OUR DUTY TO SEE THAT WE� AS A LINK ON THIS CHAIN, ARE OF THE UTMOST STRENGTH. GRANTED WE MAY NOT ALL Bt ABLE TO TAKE

A PROMINENT PART, BUT NEVERTHELESS THAT PART, THAT LINK. MUST BE OF OUR VERY BEST; IN SOCIETY ITSELF WE MAY SOMETIMES FEEL THAT WE ARE NEVER TO BE FORTUNATE (?) ENOUGH

TO PRANCE IN THE LIMELIGHT. THIS PRiVILEGE CAN WELL BE LEFT TO SUCH EGOTISTICAL INDIVIDUALS

AS THE WRITER OF THIS EDITORIAL.

THE MOST VALUABLE CITIZENS OF A COMMUNITY ARE THOSE WHO 00 THEIR DUTY TO FAMILY AND SOCIETY WITH NO THOUGHT OF REWARD. THEIR CHARACTER IS INDELI8LY IMPRINTED AND REFLECTED IN

OUR NAT I ONAL CHARAC TER AND GOES TO MAKE UP THA T I NO I V I DUAL WHOM WE ARE PROUD TO CALL "A CANAD I AN" •

SO LET IT BE WITH OUR ASSOCIATION, AND WITH OUR HOBBY SHOW EXHIBIT AT THIS TIME IN PART ICULAR.

By ALL MEANS LET US BE PROUD OF OUR BOOTH EXHIBIT, BUT LET US BE SURE THAT THIS PRIDE IS JUSTIF IABLE.

" I WILL DO MY BEST, No MAN CAN DO BETTER". WILLIAM TELL - ( UPON THE SHOOTING AT THE APPLE )

VIOLIN TONE ------BY CARDO SMALLEY

I N SEEK I NG THA T CER TA I N SOME TH I NG I N THE SOUND COM I NG FROM A V lOll N UNDER YOUR CH I N ONE IS FORCED TO REFLECT ON THE NUMBER OF STARS IN THE UNIVERSE. AS GOD MADE NO HUMANS ALIKE

THERE SEEMS TO BE A HAND THAT GUIDES A MAKER IN MAKING EACH INSTRUMENT DIPFERENT AS TO TONE.

THEY MAY BE AS CLOSE IN APPEARANCE AS PEAS BUT VASTLY APART IN SOUND. IT IS THIS UNKNOWN

QUALITY THAT KEEPS US STRIVING AND N OW AND THEN WE COME CLOSE TO WHAT WE WANT.

IN CONSTANTLY PLAYING DIFfERENT VIOLINS ONE ATTAINS A STANDARD MENTALLY IN WHAT HE WANTS

TO HEAR. THIS IS GOVERNED BY THE CAPACITY OF THE PLAYER TO PRODUCE WHAT IS THERE '1"0 PRODUCE.

ONE PLAYER APPROACHES AN INSTRUMENT WITH A VERY LIGHT TOUCH AND ANOTHER REALLY DIGS IN • .

SOME INSTRUMENTS CANNOT STAND BOTH TREATMENTS. ONE GETS TO KNOW IN A FEW MOMENTS HOW TO COAX THE BEST FROM EACH TYPE.

THE MAIN THING TO STRIVE fOR IS CLARITY, A HUMAN VOICE IS NOT CLEAR WITH A FROG IN ITS THROAT SO TO SPEAK. WHEN CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT THE VIOLIN WILL BE

CLEAR AS A BELL. THEN ONLY IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUDGE TONE. THERE IS A QUALITY SOME MIGHT

CALL WOODINESS THAT GIVES THE MAGIC TO THE SOUND. IT IS A FEELING THAT ALL THE STRINGS ARE

ONLY GUT AND THE BOW SEEMS TO CUT LIKE CHEESE. THIS WDOD AND GUT QUALITY, fOR WANT of.�

BETTER NAME, COMBINED WITH A MARVELOUS CLARITY Of SOUND THAT RINGS LIKE A BELL IS A CLOSE APPROACH TO THE ITALIAN TONE. IN PLAYING A FINE ITALIAN INSTRUMENT ONE IS STRUCK BY THE FULL

CONTRALTO QUALITY ON THE "0" WITHOUT THE TUBBINESS O� THE "G". YE T THERE IS A SOPRANO SOUND HIGH AND CLEAR ON THE "E". THE AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THERE IS NO TRACE OF HARO-

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VIOLI N T O NE (CONT'D )

NESS, ON NEW INSTRUMENTS WE WILL TRY TO GET ALL THESE QUALITIES BUT CLARITY AND HARDNESS SEEM TO GO TOGETHER, IN SUMMING UP ONE MIGHT TRY TO STATE A POSITIVE LIKING FOR A CERTAIN SOUND IN A VIOLIN AND THEN FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING ELSE QUITE DIFFERENT BUT EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL IN ANOTHER INSTRUMENT. IT IS THIS, AS WAS STATED EARLIER THAT CARRIES US FORWARD TO BETTER THINGS.

.. , ....... A CH I P FROM THE CH I SEL OF G .R. WR I GHT

A SMOOTH 10 INCH RAT-TAIL FILE IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR A PEG HOLE REAMER, IT IS THE

SAME TAPER AND MUST BE TURNED ANTI-CLOCKWISE,

NOT I CE

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION WILL BE HELD AUGUST L4TH, USUAL TIME AND PLACE. AN INiERESTING PROGRAMWILL BE ARRANGED. FINAL PREPARATION FOR THE HOBBY SHOW WILL BE DISCUSSED,

. . ......... CA PABLE REC I TAL AT THE JUL Y ""EET I NG

MOST OF OUR MEMBERS ARE ALREADY FULLY AWARE OF MR, RAGNAR HELIN'S CAPABILITY AS A VIOLINIST BUT UNTIL HEARING HIM ON THE CONCERT PLATFORM WE DID NOT FULLY REALIZE HIS ARTISTRY,

BUSINESS AT THE LAST MEETING WAS CUT TO A MINIMUM SO THAT WE COULD ENJOY MR, HELIN'S RENDITIONS, HIS STRONG MELLOW TONE WAS VERY EVIDENT IN SEVERAL SELECTIONS AND HE HAS FORCED

TO RESPOND TO MANY ENCORES. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT HE PLAYED ON A VIOLIN MADE 8Y HIMSELF AND ONLY COMPLETED LAST CHRISTMAS, IT PROVED ITSELF A SPLENDID I NSTfWMENT. MRS, HEYWORTH AS ACCOMPANIST WAS EXCELLENT. ALWAYS GIVING FULL SUPPORT WITHOUT PROMINANCE. THANK YOU 80TH FOR A DELIGHTFUL EVENING,

BEFORE THE RECITAL A SHORT BUSINESS MEETING DISCUSSED FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HOB8Y SHOW. THERE WERE ALSO SOME KIND REMARKS REGARDING THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL AND SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS AS TO ITS IMPROVEMENT.

THE CHAIRMAN REGRETTED THAT MRS, ADA MCG�RR, MUSIC ART CRITIC, WHO WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS INDISPOSED WITH AN ACUTE ATTACK OF FLU AND WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM MRS. MCGERR IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HER SUBJECT WILL BE THE VANCOUVER COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL.

INSTRUCT I ONS TO EXH I B I TORS AT THE HOBBY S HOW

As PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THE JUDGING OF ALL INSTRUMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE 10 DAyS PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL OPENING OF THE HOBBY SHOW, ( THE HOBBY SHOW OPENS AUGUST 18TH ) . OUT OF TOWN EXHIBITORS WILL ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS, THE FOLLOWING IS FOR LOCAL EXHIBITORS ONLY,

I, ALL INSTRUMENTS MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE HOBBY SHOW NOT LATER THAN FRIDA� AUGUST

7TH, A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR ASSOCIATION WILL BE THERE AUGUST 6TH AND 7TH FROM 9:00 A.M, TO 5:00 P,M.

2. N o ENTRY FEE IS REQUIRED AND NO ENTRY FORM. THE SECRETARY WILL MAKE YOUR ENTRY ON DELIVERY OF EXHIBIT.

3, INSTRUMENTS WILL BE FULLY INSURED, PLACE WHAT VALUE YOU CONSIDER FAIR AND THEY WILL BE INSURED FOR THAT AMOUNT,

4, MEMBERS WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE UNFINISHED WORK, PARTS OR TOOLS rOR THE WORK BENCH WILL PLEASE DELIVER THEM ON AUGUST 15TH OR 16TH, CONTACT THE SECRETARY DES­CRIBING WHAT YOU HAVE. DON'T LET US DOWN,

"LET US S O LIVE THAT WHE N WE D I E EVE N THE UNDERTA KER W I LL BE SOR R Y" MARK TWAIN

THE B RITISH CO LUMBIA CE NTENNIAL

WE SPOKE IN OUR FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL Or THE SUBJECT OF "PRIDE". ON THE EVENT OF OUR 100TH BIRTHDAY WE CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL A VERY STRONG SENSE Or THIS SAME EMOTION,

I - 10 - 2

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTENN IAL ( CONT'D )

- 3 -

THIS IS OUR HOME AND WE ARE RIGHTFULLY PROUD OF IT. WE ADMIRE THE PIONEERS WHO BUILT

THIS PROVINCE. THEY UNDERWENT UNTOLD HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS. Now WE REAP THE BENEfiTS. TRUE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES HAVE; TO A GREAT EXTENT, BEEN PILfERED BY MEN AND CO-OPERATIONS NOT EVEN CANADIAN IN NATIONALITY, WE SEE· INEQUALITIES, INJUSTICES, INTOLERANCE AND GREED ON EVERY HAND. THIS HOWEVER SHOULD MAKE US ALL THE MORE DETERMINED THAT THE GENERATIONS YET TO COME WILL, ON LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEARS, DECLARE THAT WE DID OUR BEST TO MAKE THIS PROVINCE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.

BRITISH COLUMBIA! WE SALUTE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND A VERY PROSPEROUS fUTURE

THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

. . . TO CELEBRATE OUR CENTENNIAL, VANCOUVER'S FIRST FESTIVAL WAS ORGANIZED� THIS FESTIVAL

WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT AND IS SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD INTEREST US ALL. THE FESTIVAL IS NOW IN PROGRESS AND IT IS YOUR CHANCE TO HEAR SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST MUSICIANS.

FOREMOST INTEREST, AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, "'ILL OF C OURSE BE THE THREE CONCERTS BY THE FESTIVAL QUARTET COMPOSED OF VIOLINIST SZYMON GOLDBERG, VIOLA WILLIAM PRIMROSE, CEL L O NIKOLAI GRAUDAN AND PIANIST VICTOR BABIN. THESE CONCERTS WILL B E HELD IN THE BALLROOM OF THE VANCOUVER HOTEL. AT THEI� THIRD CONCERT THEY WILL PLAY THE FAMOUS »TROUT" QUINTET BY SCHUBERT.

OTHER FIRST CLASS EVENTS WILL BE THE PLAYING O� THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY UNDER THE DIS­TINGUiSHED BATON Of BRUNO WALTER, WILLIAM STEINBERG AND NICHOLAS GOLDSCHMIDT. GLEN GOULD, CANADA'S LEACING PIAN1S'T WILL ALSO BE HEARD, ElESIDES OTHER OUTSTANDING ARTISTS.

To HEAR EVERYTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE EVEN TO TAKE IN MOST EVENTS WILL TAKE A LITTLE PURSE STRETCHING BUT WOULd BE WELL WORTHWHILE. THE QUARTET PLAYINci j T�ELf WOULD BE AN EDUCATION.

WE MIGHT ADD TH�T THERE WILL BE THREE CONCERTS AT THE U.B,C. FREE OF CHARGE.

THOSE WHO BRING SUNSHINE TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS CANNOT KEEP IT fROM THEMSELVES

• • • • JAMES BARRIE.

REPORT ON THE ARTS RESOURCES CONFERENCE

THE SECOND' ANNUAL ARTS RESOURCES CONfERENCE VIAS HELD ON JUNE 26TH, 27TH AND 28TH AT THE UNIVERSJTY Of BRITISH COLUMBIA.

THIS IMPORTANT CONFERENCE WAS SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL OF B.C. WHOSE HEAD OFfiCE IS AT 581 GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER.

BEFORE ELABORATION ON THE INTERESTING AND VITAL DISCUSSIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THIS GATHERING Of REPRESENTATIvES fROM EVERY PART OF THE PROVINCE IT MAY fiRST BE NECESSARY TO GIVE A LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL ANO THE PURPOSE OF ITS EXISTENCE.

THE COUNCIL WAS FORMED TO fiLL A VERY NECESSARY FUNCTION NAMELY "TO ENCOURAGE ANO DEVELOP THE ARTS AND CRAFTS IN THIS PRovINCE". IT IS HEADED BY INFLUENTIAL AND CULTURED INDIVIDUALS BUT THE MAIN BODY Of THE MOVEMENT IS COMPOSED OF ARTS AND CRAfT CLUBS AND SOCIETIES, VERY SIMILAR TO OUR VIOLIN ASSOCIATION,

THROUGH THIS ONE CENTRA' L ORGANIZATIO!'l THEY ARE ABLE TO BRING IN BUYERS fOfl THEIR POTTERY, WEAVING, WOOD CARVINGS, ETC. iT IS ONLY NATUflAL ALSO THAT THROUGH THIS ONE CHANNEL THE SMALL GROUPS ARE ABLE TO ADVERTISE AND MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN ALL OVER THE CONTINENT, fOR IN UNION THERE IS S TRENG TH.

THE PURPOSE THEN OF OUR VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION SENDING A DELEGATE TO THE ARTS RE-. SOURCES CONF'ERENCE WAS NOT ONLY TO ADVERTISE OURSELVES THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE BY CONTACTING THE MANY DELEGATES BUT TO SEE If SOMETHING COULD NOT BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE THE ART OF STRING INSTRUMENT PLAYING IN B,C.

I - 10 - 3

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REPORT ON THE ARTS RESOURCES CONFERENCE ( CONT'D )

ONE OF THE HIGHL I GHTS OF THE CONFERENCE WAS THE OPENING ADDRESS BY DR, NORMAN MCKENZIE,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERS I TY OF B,C, A QUIET UNASSUM I NG MAN YET ABLE IN SHOR.T ADDRESS TO GIVE

A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, SPEAKING ON THE CANADA COUNCIL HE DESCRIBED I TS ORIGIN

AND PURPOSE, AND AS THE CANADA COUNCIL HAS A DIRECT BEARING ON THE COMMUNITY·ARTS COUNCIL A

FEW WORDS EXPLAINING ITS FUNCTIONS AS OUTL I NED BY DR, McKENZIE WOULD BE IN ORDER.

THE CANADA COUNCIL WAS CREATED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO FOSTER THE ARTS SUCH AS PA I NTING, SCULPTURE, MUSIC, BALLET, THEATRE, HANDICRAFTS, ETC, ALSO TO ASS I ST THE HUMANITIES ON SOCIAL SCIENCES,

THE CANADA COUNC IL COVERS EVERY PHASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE ARTS EVEN TO THE

ERECTION OF SUITABLE BU I LD I NGS WHERE I N THESE ARTS CAN BE TAUGHT, DISPU\YEO OR LECTURED ON.

ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WAS ALOCATED FOR TH I S PURPOSE IN THE FORM OF A TRUST FUND.

I N THE CASE OF" BU I LD I NGS ON UN I VERS I TY GROUNDS THE COUNC I L GOES 50/50 WITH THE UN I VERS I TV IN THE INITIAL COST.

THE 30 ODD MEMBERS (OR D IRECTORS ) WHO MANAGE THE CANADA COUNCIL ARE SELECTED FROM EACH

PROVINCE, THERE BEING TWO FROM B,C.

BESIDES THE ERECTION OF MANY BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS EVERY WORTHWHILE ORGANIZATION THROUGH­

OUT THE DOMIN I ON is EITHER SPONSORED OR SUBSIDIZED BY THE CANADA COUNC I L. THE COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL OF VANCOUVER HAS RECEIVED A GRANT. TH I S IS BE I NG SPENT WITH GREAT CARE AND IS PLACED JUST WHERE IT WILL PRODUCE THE MOST RESULTS IN THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE ARTS, A STR I KING

EXAMPLE OF THE'

COMMUNITy'ARTS COUNCILS EFFORTS I S TO BE FOUND IN THE FIRST VANCOUVER INTER­

NATIONAL FESTIVAL WHICH IS NOW IN PROGRESS,

I T WAS BAC KIN L954 THA T N I CHOLAS GOLDSCHM lOT PRESENTED A BR I EF TO THE CANADA COUNC I L OUTLINING THE IDEA OF A VANCOUVER FESTIVAL. IT WAS THE COMMUN I TY ARTS COUNC I L THAT SUPPORTED

HIS ARGUMENTS AND TOGETHER THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL I N GETTING THE CONSENT AND ASS I STANCE OF THE CANADA COUNC IL,

AS MY SPACE IS NOW TAKEN UP I FEEL THIS REPORT SHOULD BE CONTINUED IN THE 'NEXT ISSUE OF

THE JOURNAL. I THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID TO SHOW THAT THE ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE NOT BE I NG

NEGLECTED IN CANADA AND POSSIBLY IT IS OUR DUTY TO HELP THIS MOVEMENT BY ANY ASSISTANCE WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE.

MORE "SECRETS" FROM MR, SANGSTER

DEAR MR, WH I TE:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

YOUR MOST INTERESTING LETTER TO HAND AND THO' I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT YOU MAY HAVE THE

ANSWER TO THE ITALIAN TONE IN "PROPOLIS" BECAUSE THERE IS ONE THING THAT PUZZLES ME, WHEN YOU

UNSTRING AN ITALIAN VIOLIN AND LOOK AT THE INS I DE THROUGH THE END PIN-HOLE UNDER A BRIGHT LIGHT,

THERE I S NO LIGHT TO BE SEEN TI-jROUGH THE TOP, BUT OUI, MODERN VIOLINS ARE QUITE TRANSPARENT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN " PROPOL IS" BUT I KNOW A CHAP HERE WHO KEEPS BEES SO MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOME,

HAVE SEEN, HANDLED AND STUDIED ABOUT THIRTY-FIVE STRADS AND EVERY ONE WAS MARVELOUS.

ONE THING THEY DID FOR ME - THEY TOOK ALL THE SWELLING OUT OF MY HEAD AS A V I OLIN MAKER, STRAD

WAS A MASTER AT PUTTING THE ARCH ON A VIOLIN AND EVERY DETAIL SHOWS THE HAND OF A MASTER,

THE TYPE OF ARCHING AND HOW IT IS PUT ON HAS A GREAT OEAL TO DO WITH THE VOLUME, ARTICU­LATION, AND THE TRUENESS OF THE FIFTHS, OCTAVES, AND TENTHS IN FINGERING, THE QUALITY Of TONE DEPENDS ON WHAT IS PUT ON THE V I OLIN BEFORE IT IS VARNISHED AND HOW LONG TH I S COAT I S EXIDIZED BEFORE VARNISHING, WHAT THE OLD ITALIANS USED I DON'T KNOW NOR DOES ANYONE, ONE LIFETIME IS NOT ENOUGH, I HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIMENTING AND SO FAR HAVE GOTTEN THE BEST RESULTS FROM RAW LINSEED OIL RESIN AND TURPENTINE. I AM QUITE SURE THE OLD ITALIANS USED RAW LINSEED OIL BUT WHAT THEY USED WITH IT IF ANYTHING IS ANYONES GUESS. You MAY HAVE THE ANSWER IN

I - 10 - 4

- 5 -

LE TTERS TO THE EDITOR (CONT'O) MORE "SECRETS" FROM MR, SANGSTER (CONT'D)

"PROPOLIS".

THE BIGGEST NIGGER IN THE VIOLIN MAKERS WOODPILE IS THE fACT THAT NEW VIOLINS HOWEVER GOOD WILL NOT PLA Y LIKE A GOOD ONE THA T HAS BEEN PLA YEO BY A GOOD PLA YER EVEN fiVE YEARS. IT IS VERY OlftiCULT TO GET A PROfESSIONAL VIOLINIST TO PLAY ON A NEW VIOLIN IF HE HAS A fAIRLY GOOD OLD ONE.

THE VARNISH IS VERY SIMPLE TO MAKE. SOME Of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL I HAVE MADE WAS MADE FROM DOUGLAS FIR RESIN I GOT FROM CALifORNIA,

IF YOU CAN GET SOME DOUGLAS FIR RESIN, FAT AND WHITE - KNOWN IN THE OLD D,l\YS AS (GALIPOT). TAKE'2 OZ� OF' PURE RAW LINSEED OIL AND 2* OZ. OF" THE DOUGLAS FIR RESIN IF" IT 1$ SOfT, (ONLY 2 OZ. IF IT IS HARD). PUT BOTH IN A SMALL CAST IflON FRYING PAN, PUT OVER THE GAS BURNER WITH MODERATE HEAT AND MELT TOGETHER STIRRING ALL THE TIME WITH A WIRE STIR STICK.

WHEN MELTED TOGETHER TURN THE HEAT UP AS fAR AS YOU DARE WITHOUT CONTENTS CATCHING FIRE AND COOK FifTEEN MINUTES (NO MORE) STIRRING ALL THE TIME. LET COOL 10 OR 15 MINUTES AND DILUTE WITH PURE SPIRITS Of TURPENTINE (WARMED) TO THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY TO APPLY WITH A BRUSH. FIVE COATS WILL GI,VE YOU THE MOST BEAUTIF'UL GOLDEN RED COLOR YOU EVER SAW ON A VIOLIN. :CAUTION" VARNISH MUST BE MADE IN AN OUTBUILDING NOT IN THE HOUSE, IT GIVES OfF A GREAT DEAL Of PUNGENT SMOKE. BE SURE TO STIR ALL THE TIME THE VARNISH IS COOKING BECAUSE THERE IS A MOLECULAR CHANGE TAKING PLACE. If YOU HAVE NOT READ IT, GET "THE VARNISHES Of THE ITALIANS" BY GEORGE FRY, HE MADE A BEAUTIFUL VARNISH USING NITRIC ACID AND HE GIVES A GREAT DEAL OF . " . . INfORMATION ON THE SUBJECT Of VARNISH FROMTURPENTINE. 'MR. FRY DID NOT KNOW THAT THE VARNISH HAS TO BE'DRIED IN THE SUNLIGHT. 'AS YOU PfWBABLY KNOW, I" \VAS \vRITTENIN 1638 SIX YEARS BEfORE STRAb WAS BORN. uTHE VIOLIN CANN6T BE BROUGHT TO PERfECTION WITHOUT THE STRONG HEAT Of THE SUNu, AND I THINK THE REASON fOR IT IS IN THE fACT THAT THE HEAT Of' THE SUN IS NEEDED TO OXIDIZE THE PRIMING COAT AND TO DRY THE VARNISH.

I THINK YOUR ASSOCIATION IS A ,GREAT GTEP fORWARD AND I AM SORRY THAT VANCOUVER IS SO FAR FROM DALLAS MAKING THE COST Of GETTING THERE AND eACK TOO GREAT fOR A VIOLIN MAKER. HOWEVER lAM ENCLOSING A CHEQUE fOR THE JOURNAL. KEEP IT COMING.

WITH BEST WISHES TO ALL YOU MEMBERS AND TELL THEM I WILL BE WITH THEM IN SPIRIT AT THE HOBBY SHOW.

E.H. SANGSTER, J.109;! ELM Sr., DALLAS 2, TEXAS •

. . . . . . .

UAMONG THE 3 OR 4 MILLION CRADLES NOW ROCKING IN THE LAND ARE SOME WHICH THIS NATION WOULD PRESERVE fOR ,�GES AS SACRED THINGS, IF" WE COULD KNOVI WHICH ONES THEY AREu MARI< TWAIN

HE WHO SEEKS REVENGE, DIGS TWO GRAVES

FURTHER SUPPORT fOR DON WHITE'S IDEAS ON VIOLfN JUDGING DEAR DON:

SO YOU THINK ABOUT 90% Of THE VALUE Of A VIOLIN IS DETERMINED BY ITS TONE. I VlOULD GO FURTHER ANti SAY ABOUT 98% OR MORE.

WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT ANY MAKER TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT Of PRIDE IN HIS \vORK BEING PREStNTABLE, IT IS A MISTAKE TO SPEND MUCH TIME ON IT. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE MACHINES AT MIRECOURT CAN TURN OUT JUST AS NICE fiNISH AS 6TRAD EVER GOT ON HIS STUfF' - BUT WHAT IS .IT WORTH?

JUST RECE�TLY AN OLD FRENCH CELLO WAS BROUGHT TO ME fOR VALUATION. POOR WOOD, CLUMS Y PATTERN, HARD YELLOW SPiRIT VARNISH AND EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, POORLY DONE. No TICKET, BUT IT VIAS

- 10 - 5

- 6 -

FURTHER SUPPORT FOR DON WHITE'S IDEAS ON VIOLIN JUDGING ( CONT'O)

UNNECESSARY, NO ONE fAMiliAR WITH EARLY FRENCH WORK COULD MISTAKE THE MAKER, ANY STORE IN TOWN WILL GIVE YOU II BETTER LOOKING INSTRUMENT FOR $75,00. YET I HAD TO TELL THE OWNER HIS CELLO WAS WORTH $L,OOO.OO, AND IF HE WANTED TO SEND IT TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN HOLLYWOOD HE MIGHT DO A LITTLE BETTER.

THERE IS ANOTHER MATTER IN WHICH I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE, AND THAT IS "JUDGES" WHO LISTEN TO TWO VIOLINS AND SAY WHICH IS BEST. USUALLY THE ONE WITH THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST TONE IS JUOGED THE BEST. BUT PUT IT INTO TRIO WITH A STEINWAY PIANO AND A FINE ITALIAN CELLO, AND YOU fiNO YOU HAVE NOT A NIGHTINGALE, BUT A CROW. QUALITY IS WHAT WE WANT, AND THE ONLY SAfE WAY TO JUDGE IT IS IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT.

'HALTER A. JACKLIN, 5058 CYPRESS ST., VANCOUVER •

. . . . . .. . . LETTER fROM JOHN LAWSON

THE FOLLOWING IS PART Of A LETTER fROM OUR OLD FRIEND JOHN LAWSON WHO IS DOING WELL AS EDITOR OF A MONTHLY MAGAZINE IN LONDON.

DEAR DON:

MANY THANKS fOR THE JOURNAL WHICH I :lLWAyS READ fROM COVER TO COVER, THE MOMENT I RECEIVE IT, AND WITH A TREMENDOUS INTEREST, Ycu ARE DOING A SPLENDID JOB AND I LOOK fORWARD TO MORE ISSUES.

THAT WAS A NICE PIECE Of PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK YOU HANDLED IN THE CIRCULAR LETTER. MOST CONVINCING. THERE ' is AT LEAST ONE RESULT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. I IMMEDIATELY SENT YOU THE EQUIVALENT OF $5.00. AT L.EAST i HAVE ENSURED THAT I SHALL NOT LOSE THAT PRECIOUS LINK WITH THE ASSOCIATION, WHILE IT IS STILL ALIVE.

GIVE MY REGARDS TO THE MANY fRIENDS I LEFT BEHIND AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL AT THE HOBBY SHOW.

"OBSERVATIONS BY DR, F.A, SAUNDERS" DEAR MR, WH I n: :

JOHN LAWSON, LONDON, ENGLAND.

MANY THANKS fOR YOUR LETTER AND fOR THE TWO COPIES Of THE JOURNAL. I MUST ADMIT THAT THE WORK WE HAVE PUBLISHED (MYSELf AND COLLABORATORS) HAS NOT BEEN SPECIALLY USEfUL TO BUILDERS, EXCEPT THE ONE ARTICLE, BY MRS. HUTCHINS AND MySELF IN L953 "VIOLINS AND VIOLINISTS" ABOUT THINNING EDGES FOR VIOLINS WHICH ARE NOT THIN ENOUGH THERE ALREADY. THERE IS TO BE ANOTHER ARTICLE Of MORE USE IN AN APPROACHING ISSUE Of THE "STRAD".

THE MAJOR PEAKS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED, AT LEAST TWO OR THREE Of THEM, BY EAR, JUST LISTEN-ING, THE "AIR-TONE" PEAK IS AROUND C SHARP ON A VIOLIN, THE "BODY" 'PEAK, WHICH IS HIGHER BY 7 TO 10 SEMI TONES IN VIOLINS, AND PROBABLY A PEAK OR TWO AWAY UP THE E STRING. ANY INSTRUMENT WHICH WILL INDICATE LOUDNESS WOULD HELP. AN ORDINARY "PICK UP", WITH AN AMPL'lFlER CONNECTED TO A SMALL OSCILLOSCOPE WILL SHOW A LOT Of LOUDNESS PEAKS, IF" ONE Of YOUR GROUP HAS GONE INTO HI-FI REPRODUCTION HE MAY HAVE SOME SORT OF VOLUME INDICATOR IN HIS SET-UP. WHEN I AM BORED AT A CONCERT I AMUSE MYSELf ElY PICKING OUT THE LOUD NOTES ON A VIOLIN, VIOLA or� CELLO.

You ASK ABOUT THE EffECT Of AIR VOLUME. THE INNER AIR IN A ViOLIN CAN EMIT ONLY ONE TONE, THOUGH ITS EFFECT IS SPREAD OVER A COUPLE Of SEMI-TONES E:ACH VlAY. STRICTLY SPEAKING IT EMITS ONLY THE fUNDAMENTAL TONE Of THIS NOTE; THE HARMONICS, Of THE STRINGS, ARE EMITTE:D BY THE BODY, JUST AS IN THE CASE OF OTHER VI.OLIN NOTES. THIS F"UNDAMENTAL TONE (ABOUT 280 VIBRATIONS PER SECOND ) ADDS A LOVELY QUALIT� BUT THE BODY OF" THE VIOLIN CANNOT EMIT THIS FUNDAMENTAL, OR THOSE Of LOWER NOTES WITH ENOUGH STRENGTH TO GIVE A SATISfACTORY RESULT, If YOU PLUG THE TWO F HOLES WITH SOfT COTTON WOOL YOU WILL REMOVE THE AIR-TONE AND CAN EASILY SEE HOW MUCH IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE'MIDDLE G STRING TONES AND HOW MEAN A VIOLIN SOUNDS WITHOUT IT. A LARGER AIR

I - 10 - 6

"OBSERVATIONS BY DR. F.A. SAUNDERS" (CONT'D)

VOLUME W ILL LOWER THE AIR-TONE, PERHAPS A SEMI TONE, IT WILL 00 NOTHING ELSE - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - THE RIBS CAN BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3/4" TO tit OR ANY OTHER FIGURE, AND ALL THAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE AIR-TONE MOVES UP OR DOWN,

AN EXPERIMENT YOU CAN TRY IS TO TAKE A PIECE OF' WHITE SILK THREAD, CUT IT TO ttl OR 3/4" IN LENGTH, UNRAVEL A SINGLE FIBRE FROM IT AND WAX ONE END OF THAT ON TO THE EDGE CC' AN F HOLE IN SUCH A DIRECTION THAT THE FREE END OF' THE F IBRE IS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLE, LIGHT IT BRIG�TCY WITH A SPOT LIGHT AND GET A MAGNIFYING GLASS OF 3 TO 6 POWER, FOCUSSED ON IT. THENHAVE SOMEONE LAY THE AIR-TONE WHILE YOU WATCH THE FIBRES, IT W ILL BE MUCH EXCITED AT THAT TONE ONLY, TRYING ANY OTHER TONE DOES NOT DISTURB IT IN THE LEAST, TH IS IS AN EXCELLENT PROOF THAT NO ViGOROUS SOUND COMES OUT OF THE F HOLES EXCEPT THE AIR-TONE. THIS ONE EXPERI. ME NT BLOWS UP A BUCKETFUL OF MISCONCEPTIONS.

THINNING THE PLATES LOWERS THE BODY PEAKS. THE SAME HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE A MUTE OF SOME WEIGHTS (MUST HAVE TWO OR BETTER THREE PRONGS). YOU CAN GIVE A NICE DEMONSTRATION: FIND THE PRINCIPAL PEAK AT OPEN A OR A SEM ITONE OR "TWO ABOVE, AND SHOW PEOPLE (BY PLAYING IT) THAT IT IS LOUDER THAN NEIGHBORING NOTES, THEN PUT ON THE MUTE, AND A LOWER NEIGHBORING NOTE WILL BE DIS T INC TL Y STRONGER.

LOOKING AT THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR MAY NUM8ER," LINE 7 UP �EFErtS TO AN IMPOSSIBILITY, THE souND OF A VIOL IN DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE F HOLES, EXCEPT ONLY THE FUNDAMENTAL OF THE AIR-TONE, THE L ITTLE SILK WH ISKER WILL PROVE THAT FOR YOU, THE TONE COMES OFF THE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY; THAT PORTION THAT COMES OFF THE INSIDE OF THE BODY IS POWERLESS TO MAKE ANY AIR PEAK, EXCEPT AT THE AIR-TONE. TAKE AN EMPTY BOTTLE AND BLOW ACROSS ITS MOUTH, HOW MANY TONES CAN YOU PRODUCE? ONLY ONE �

HEIFlTZ1S GUARNERIUS"HAS A PEAK AT A OF 440, WHEN HE SOUNDS 220 (A ON THE G STRING) IT PRODUCES 440,660,880, ETC. AS HARMON ICS OF THIS 440'S, ENCHANCED BECAUSE IT IS THE STRONG BODY PEAK, SO THIS MAKES 220 LOUDER THAN OTHERWISE. IF A NOTE liKE THIS 220 IS LOUD BECAUSE OF STRENGTH IN AN OVERTONE I CALI. IT AN OVERTONE PEAK. If A 440 IS A STRONG PEAK IT WILL HAVE ITS OVERTONES STRONG TOO. THESE ARE 880, 1.320, :1.760, ETC,

I WAS GLAD TO READ MR, REID'S LETTER AND NOTE HE KEEPS A RECORD OF THE TONES GIVEN BY THE PLATES BEFORE GLUE(NG THEM ON. WE FINO THIS EXTREMELY tMPORTANT AND HAVE BEEN I(EEPING PHOTO-GRAPHIC RECORDS FOR MANY YEARS, WE CALL THESE THE TAP NOTES. AN ACCOUNT OF THIS WORK IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN AN APPROACHING NUMBER OF THE STRAD. MRS, HOPKINS CONSIDERS THIS A BETTER WAY OF DETERMINING WHEN TO STOP THINNING THE PLATES THAN MEASURING, BECAUSe: IT AUTO-MATICALLY TAKES CARE OF VARIAT IONS IN THE WOOD, SHE THINKS ONE WHO SLAViSHLY FOLLOWS GRADUATION FIGURES MAY FAIL TO GET GOOD RESULTS.

I WilL Be: GLAD TO HELP OUT WI TH EXPLANATIONS ANY TIME. F,A, SAUNDERS, SOUTH HADLEY, MASS.

EL,\S T I C TONE

WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T HEAR MORE ABOUT AN ELASTIC TONE IN A VIOL IN? ALL GREAT VIOLINS HAVE THIS ELASTIC TONE, IT GIVES POWER AND PENITRATION, THE TRUE MARKS OF A [lEAL GOOD VIOLIN,

THERE ARE THREE CLASSES OF TONE AND POSSIBLY A FOURTH, SUCH AS JAC09 STAINER'S, OUT FOR THe: ITALIAN THERE ARE THREE: THE AMATIM STRAD AND GUARNARIUS. THE AMAT I, VERY SWEET OUT NO POWER. STRAD: POWERFUL AND MELLOW. GUARNARIUS: BRilLIANT AND IMMENSE PENETRATION, I HAVE AN ARTICLE BY KRIESLER AND ELLMAN WHICH SAYS THAT ONLY A GUARNARIUS WILL FILL A LARGE CONCERT HALL . ... THEN WH Y SO MUCH ABOUT S TRAD?

WE KNOW THAT A STRAIGHT ROD WILL VIBRATE EASIER THAN A BENT ONE, THEN WHY HAVE AN ARCHED

I - 10 - 7

ELASTIC TONE ( CONT'D )

- 8 -

VIOLIN? VIOLIN,

I WILL TRY AND e:XPLAIN: SUPPOSE YOU PUT A CARDBOARD IN PLACE Of THE TOP Of YOUR YOU WOULD HAVE SAGS OR WEAK SPOTS WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH VIBRATIONS, EXACTLY

BETWEEN WHERE THE CARDBOARD RESTS ON, THAT lS, BETWEEN EDGES AND SOUND POST, BUT IF IT WERE ARCHED YOU WOULD HAVE EQUAL PRESSURE ALL OVER. Too HIGH AN ARCH MAKES THE GO.�RDS TOO HARD T O PUT I N VIBRATION, ARCHING I S VERY IMPORTANT S O THAT THE STRESS WILL COME EQUAL OVER THE WHOLE BOARD. THE DIP AROUND THE EDGES SHOULD BE VERY SHALLOW. TONE COMES OUT EASIER, BUT IT LOSES POWER, I LIKE MY EDGES TEN S!XTY-FOURTHS INCHES THICK SO I CAN PUT ON A NICE ROLLED EDGE WITHOUT GOING TOO DEEP AROUND THE EDGES,

I MAY COME TO VANCOUVER NEXT YEAR. If I DO WE CAN EXCHANGE IDEAS, I THINK YOUR JOURNAL IS VERY GOOD, THANKS FOR THE WRITE-UP YOU GAVE ME.

AS EVER,

SCZIPAR KU JAWA, 1958 HAW,HORNE

ST. PA1JL, MINN,

I - 10 - 8

DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBL I SHtD BY THE V IOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIA T ION OF BRI T I SH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • • • • NO " • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • VANCOUVER, B.C • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • SEPTEMBER, 1958

ED I TOR IAL

LESSONS FROM THE 1958 HOBBY SHOl1

THE 1958 PACIFIC NAT I ONAL HOOBY SHOW NOVI E'TERS THE PAGES' OF HISTORY AND VIE HAVE NO

INTEN T I ON Of" HOLDING AN EXTENDED POST-MORTEM OVCR THE DCP'RTEO, BUT A F'EW OBSERVATIONS MIGHT 'WELL BE MADE SEF'OPE EV.BARKING ON ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

IT WAS UNF'ORTUNATE THAT AFTER A DEfiNITE PROMISE 8Y THE MA NAGER Of" THE HOOBY SHOW Of SUF'F I CIENT SPACE IN WHICH TO DISPLAY OUR EXHIBIT, NAMELY 24 FT. F'RONTAGE, WE WERE ONL,.Y ALLOWF.:D l4tn.

THIS NOT ONLY CROWDED OUR DISPLAY BUT MAN Y INSTRUMENTS, Of" A NOVEL CHARACTER, WHICH WE HAD

HOPED TO EXHIBIT HAD TO BE OMITTED, IN FACT WE �ERE UNABLE TO FIND SPACE FOR ALL ENTRIES.

AUDJUDICATfON SHEETS LAID OUT ON THE POINT 5vsrEM - 70 POINTS FOR TONE AND 30 POINTS rOR

WORKMANSHiP ANO rINISH, WERe: SUBMITTED TO THE HOBOy'!)HCW, O.K'D AND PnINTEO OY THEM WE HAD HOPED THAT AT LEAST HALf THE I NSTR UME NTS WOUl.D RECEIVE A F' I LLED AUDJUDICATION SHEET BUT TO DATE WE HAVE NOT RECE I V ED SHEETS EVEN FOR ALL THE PRIZE WI NNEI{ S . WE HAVE NO QUARREL WITH THE

THREE JUDGES WHOM WE UNDERS TAND RECEIVE NO 'REMllNERATION FOR THE I R WORK. Wr:: WOULD SAY HOWEVER, THAT ANY ORGAN I ZATION THE SIZE OF THE HOBBY SHO�I SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THE i n JUDGES ARE PAID , , SUFFICIENT TO ASSURE THAT THEY CAN Sr>END f"ULL TIME TO 00 THE THINGS WH,ICH I'IE UNDERSTAND WERE PROMISED. THE PoINT

'SYSTE M WAS CHANGED WITHOUT OUR CONSULTATION TO READ 50 POINTS FOR TONE

AND 50 FOR WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH. EVIDENTLY "WE Hf\V€: LITTLE OR NO SAY IN THE JUDGING Of" OUR IYO AI< ...

IF WE ARE TO PLAN FOR A PROGReSS I VELY BETTER EXHIBIT NEXT VEAR CHANGES WILL HAVe: TO BE MADE. INSTRUMENT MAKERS F'ROM DISTANT POINTS MUST BE ASSURED THAT OtJ� SHOW IS RUN WITH MORE OUSINESS LIKE MANNER. VIOLINS SENT A DISTANCE OF 2,000 M I LES DESERVE TH£ COM�LIMENT Of CORRECT TREATMENT. THEY SEND THEIR INSTHUMENTS TO THIS SHOW WITH EXPECTATIONS OF LEARNING

WHAT IS GOOD OR INDIFF'ERENT IN THEIR F'INI3HED CONSTRUCT I ON. WE CAN PROMise THEM THAT NEXT YEAR THINGS WILL CE DIF'FEnENT. DIFFICULTIES MUST BE SURMOUNTE IF WE ARE TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD Of COMPETITION AND RETAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR EXHIBITORS.

IT WOULD BE fOLLY TO DU I LO UP AN I NTERNATIONAL VIOLIN SHOW UNLESS THESE THINGS CAN 6e: ASSURED.

THE 1958 HOBBY SHOW EXHIB I T

I N SPITE OF' THE MANY CONTROVERSIES AND RIVALRY THAT ATTENDED OUR SHOW, WE fEEL THAT ON

THE WHOLE OUR EXHlelT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.

YOUR HOs s y SHOW COMMI TTE� DESERVE SPECI AL CREDIT fOR THE EARNEST MANNER IN WHICH THEY CARRIED OUT THEIR ACTIVIT I ES AND PLANN ING.

THOSE WHO DECORATED THE DOOTH RECE I VE OUR SINCEllE THANKS. THEY 010 A ROYAL JOB WITH THE

SPACE AT THEIR DISI'OSAL AND PUT ON A DISPLAY THAT REALLY ATTRACTED ATTENTION. WE CANNOT PASS

WITHOUT MENTIONING TWO WHO ALWAYS CONTRISI)T!: OF THE ; R UTTERMOST _ MARTHA KOZAK AND PEDER

SVINDSAY. THEY DID I T AGA I N AND WHEN WE SAY "THANK YOU" 'liE .�RE EXPRESSING THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL MEMOERS.

I - 11 - I

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T H E 1958 HOBBY S HO W E X H I B I T ( C ON T ' D )

T H E I NV A S I ON Of OUR EX H I B I T B Y V I OL I NS f R OM D I S TA N T PO I NT S ; I NC L U D I NG THE U , S . A , S H O U L D

I NS P I R E U S TO GREA TER EFFOR TS , T H E Y C ER TA I NL Y S E N T US S OM E F I NE I NS TR UME NTS WH I CH � ES E N T A

C H A L L E N G E T O US WH I C H WE f E E L W I LL L E A D TO B E T TER I NS TR UME N TS B E I NG M A D E 8 Y ALL , T H E PRE S E N C E

O F I NS TR UM E N TS F R OM A l:. L O V E R NOR TH AM E R I C A WA S T H E M OS T E D UCA T I O N A L PA R T O F T H E H OB B Y S H O W ,

T H E O PPOR TU N I T Y I T PRES E N T E D O F E NA B L l Nil U S T O H A ND L E A ND PLA Y V I OL I NS MA D E 8 Y TH E B ES T MA K ERS

WAS S OM E TH I NG WOR T H WH I LE ,

T o ALL T H OS E " OU T.OF- TOWN" EX H I B I TS , WE A S YOUR H O S T D E C LA R E , " T H A NKS FOR COM I NG , WE WOULD L I KE TO KEE P YOU H E R E B U T F A I L I NG THA T W I S H YOU A S A F E J OUR N E Y H OM E , C OM E A G A I N NEX T

YEAR , "

A M O NG T H E E N TR I ES PER H A PS THE M OS T OUTS TA ND i NG WAS THE " C E N T E N N I A L V I OL I N" MA D E B Y R E V . G E O , WR I GH T , I N T H E OC TOBER I SS UE WE W I LL D ES C R I O E T H I S I NS T R UM E NT I N D E TA I L , S UF F I C I E N T

f OR TH E PRES E N T I S T O S A Y THA T F OR I NG E NU I T Y MID OR I G I NA L t T Y I T WAS A WORK Of A R T , T H E

I NS TR UM E NT A ND I TS C O M PO NA N TS rR ES E N T E D A C OM PLE TE H I S T OR Y OF B , C . DUR I NG T H E LAS T 1 00 YEAR S .

T H E THR E E " C OW B O Y" f i D D L ES B Y B OB WA L L A C E WERE A L S O THE C E N TR E OF A T TRAC T I ON , T HE

I NTR I C A TE I NL A Y WOR K WAS A DM I R ED B Y A L L V I S I TORS TO O U R B OOTH I B oo M A K ES A ND S EL L S THESE F O R

S Q UA R E D A NC E F I DD L E R S ,

PR I Z E W I NNE RS

T H E C A R D O S M A L L Y T R O PH Y PRES E N TE D FOR T H E D ES T I NS TR UM E N T I N TH E S H O W ,

E . H . S A NGS T E R - DHLAS , T E X A S

T H E D O N WH I TE T R O PH Y FOR T H E B ES T TONED V I OL I N M A D E C Y A M EMBER O F T H E V I O L I N MAKERS '

A S S OC I A T I ON PE R R Y S . M I L L E R

!:!Qlf:

HONOR A B L E M E N T I O N F O R V I OLA V IO L I NS F I R S T PR I Z E W I NNERS

V I O LAS

V I O L I N B O W

S EC O ND PR I Z E W I NNERS -

T H I R D PR I Z E � I NNERS

F I RS T PR I Z E

S EC OND PR I Z E

TH I R D PR I Z E

V I O L I NS JUDGED M A I N L Y A S WO R K OF A R T

F I R S T PR I Z E

S ECOND PR I ZE

PEDER S v I N D S A Y

E , H . S A NGS T E R

PER R Y 5 , M I L LAR

MRS . MAR THA KOZA K PEDE R S v I N D S A Y

D O N WH I TE

C A R L THOE N

R OD ER T N , W A L LA C E

G E O , FR I ES S

R A G NOR H E L I N

F L O YD HOLL Y

PED ER S v I NDS A Y

R E V . G E O WR I GH T

ROBER T N . WA LLA C E

R O O E R T N. WA LLAC E

T wo F I RS TS

PR I Z ES WERE N O T A WARDED I N T H E 1-2-3 F A S H I O N O U T WER E A WA R D E D PR I zE R I B O ONS

E Q UA L TO THE I R M ER I T , T H I S A C C O U N TS F OR M O R E T H A N ONE F I R S T, S E C O ND OR TH I R D I N S O M E S EC T I O NS ,

1 - 1 1 - 2

- 3 -

PRIZE WINNERS ( CONT'D )

WE WISH TO EXTEND THANKS TO ALL OUT OF TOWN AND LOCAL MEMCERS FOR THEIR EXHIBITS WHICH

BUILT UP A WELL WORTH WHILE DISPLAY.

SINCERE THANKS IS ALSO EXTENDED TO THE THREE JUDGES FOR THE ABLE WORK,

A PROUD CANADIAN WAS SHOWING THE NIAGARA FALLS TO A FRIEND FROM TEXAS, "I'LL BET" HE SMILED, POINTING TOWARDS THE FALLS, "THAT YOU HAVEN'T ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN TEXAS

";"

"NOPE" YAWNED THE TEXAN, "BUT WE GOT PLUMBERS WHO COULD PIX IT."-

WHY DID I NOT WIN AT THE HOBBY SHOW BY DON WHITE

MANY OF THOSE WHO ENTERED INSTRUMENTS AT THE HOBBY SHOW ARE AL.READY ASKING ME WHY THEIR INSTRUMENTS DID NOT GET IN THE PRIZE BRACKETS, To SOME OF THESE I CAN GIVE THE ANSWERS TO OTHERS IT WAS MOSTLY TONE - OFTEN GOOD TONE OUT NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH, THERE IS SO LITTLE

THAT SEPARATES GOOD TONE FROM EXCELLENT TONE THAT OFTEN A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF STRINGS OR BRIDGES, ETC, MIGHT HAVE DONE THE TRICK,

IN SEVERAL CASES THE VARNISH WAS NOT SET, JOSEPH REED WAS ONE WHOSE VARNISH VIAS SOFT

ENOUGH TO SHOW FINGER MARKS BUT WE THANK YOU MR, REED FOR SENDING THE ONLY VIOLIN YOU HAD ON HAND, NOT EXPECTING IT TO WIN, OUT ONLY TO HELP OUR SHOW AND LET US SEE YOUR WORK ( VERY FINE ) . To GIVE A VIOLIN THE CHANCE IT DESERVES I CONSIDER IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS OLO ANO WELL PLAYED ON, SO GET BUSY MAKERS AND PREPARE FOR NeXT YEAR.

THE JUDGES DO NOT SEEM TO LIKE STEEL S TR I NGS, THEY DO NOT PRODUCE THE MELLOW TONE OF COVERED GUT, IF AN INSTRUMENT DEMANDS STEEL STRINGS IN ORDER TO CREATE STRENGTH OF TONE, THEN

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN ITS CONSTRUCTION, SOME INSTRUMENTS HAD GUT STRINGS BUT DEfiNITELY NOT OF" FIRST CLASS QUALITY, SEVERAL POINTS COULD HAVE BEEN GAINED IN TONE OY THE INSTALLATION OF SAY WONDER TONE STRINGS,

S�VERAL VIOLINS WERE EQUIPPED WITH HAND MADE BRIDGES, THIS WOULD BE COMMENDABLE BUT FOR THE FACT THAT FANCY ALTERATIONS WERE SOMETIMES MADE IN THE MODEL. THE PRESENT SHAPE AND FORM

OF BRIDGE HAS [\EEN ARRIVED AT BY MANY EXPERIMENTS AND APPEARS TO BE THE BEST SUITED F"OR TONE.

ALTERATIONS CAN BE MADE IN THE AUTHORDOX BRIDGE TO SUIT THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY INSTRUMENT AND IS A SUOJECT WHICH DR. SAUNDER HAS EXPERIMENTED WITH (MORE ON THIS IN A LATER ISSUE ) . SOME BRIDGES WERE TOO LOW CREATING TOO LITTLE TENSION ON THE STRINGS,

ALTOGETHER THE INSTRUMENTS WERE VERY FINE 80TH IN WORKMANSHIP AND TONE, THANKS TO ALL

EXHIBITORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FRuM DISTANT POINTS,

THE MEASURE Of SUCCESS IS NOT WHETHER YOU HAVE A TOUGH PROBLEM" TO DEAL WI TH, BU" T

WHETHER IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM YOU HAD LAST YEAR,

MORE ON THE ARTS RESOURCES CONFERENCE By DON WHITE

IN MY LAST ARTICLE I DWELT ON THE BIRTH AND CHARACTER OF THE ARTS RESOURCe:S CONFERENCE AND SHOWED THE CHARACTER OF ITS "SPONSORS, THE CANADA COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL,

A GENERAL MEETING OF" ALL DELEGATES WAS USUALLY HELD EACH MORNING, ON THE ADJOURNMENT

OF WHICH DELEGATES ARRANGED THEMSELVES INTO SEPARATE CROUPS ACCORDING TO THE ART IN WHICH THEY WERE SPECIALLY INTERESTED. THE MUSIC GROUP HAD SEVERAL VERY INSTRUCTIVE STUDY PERIODS.

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MORE ON THE ARTS RESOURCES C ONFERENCE ( CONT'D )

ON THURSDAV, JUNE 26TH, THE MUSIC GROUP HELD A DISCUSSION UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF DR. LENARD MARSH Of THE U.B.C, THE SUBJECT BEING, "How CAN WE BEST ASSESS AND OEVELOP OUR ART

RESOURCES. It

DR. MARSH IN HIS INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE fOUR ELEMENTS GOVERNING

THE DEVELOPMENT Of GOOD MUS IC AND MUS IC APPREC IA T ION, NA�IELY, COMPOSERS, PERFORMERS, TEACHERS AND LIS TENERS.

HE STATED THAT THE THREE fiRST MENTIONED OF THESE ELEMENTS WERE SEVERi;LY HANDICAPPED BY SALARIES AND REMUNERATION COMPLETELY INADEQUATE. IF WE ARE TO ENCOURAGE THE OEST COMPOSERS,

PERFORMERS AND TEACHERS, WORTHWHILE INDEMNITY MUST BE ASSURED. THE LISTENERS ( WHICH FORM THE LARGEST GROUP OF ALL ) MUST IN SOME WA� BE EDUCATED TO GCOD MUSIC. THE RADIO IN THE PAST

HAS BEtN A STRONG FACTOR IN EXPOSING THE PUBLIC T6 THE DEST MUSIC. THE POPULARITY OF TELE-VISION, HOWEVER, HAS CHANGED THE PICTURE ( NO PUN INTENDED ) , NOW THE RADIO BLARES FORTH MOST(Y

POOR QUALITY JAZZ, WHILE THE TELEVISION CONCENmATES ON DRAMA IN THE FORM OF OLD FILMS. OR.

MARSH SUGGES TEO THA T A RAD lO S TA T I ON ON THE UN I VEnS I TV CAMPUS HAD BEEN SUGGES TED AS A MEANS OF BROADCASTING ALL FORMS OF CULTURAL EDUCATION.

DURING THE DISCUSSION THE DELEGATES UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT

A MUSiC DEPARTMENT AND CHAIR DE IMMEDIATELY INSTALLED AT U.S.C. AT THE PRESENT TIME STUDENTS

STUDVING fOR A BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREES ARE ODLIGED TO TRAVEL AND RESIDE AT TORONTO AND ATTEND THE TORONTO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC OR TO MONTREAL AND ATTEND McGILL.

DROUGH T UP THE'SUDJECT OF' THE ENCOURAGEMENT Of STR i NG INSTRUMENT PLAYING. ·MR. WARD

OF WARD'S MUS IC STORE, VANCOUVER � STATED THAT THERE WA� LITTLE DEM�ND FOR VIOLIN� . NEARLY EVERY CUSTOMER PURCHASING OTHER INSTRUMENTS HAD A VIOLIN TO TRADE IN AS FIRST PAYMENT. ON MY

SUGGESTION HE THOUGHT THAT ONE WEEK COULD BE' SET ASIDE FOR THE ADVERTISING OF STRING INSTRU­MENTS AND SEEMED AGREEADLE THAT OUR ASSOCIATION SHOULD DISPLAY THEIR ViOLINS FOR SALE DURING THA T PER 100.

ON THE LAST MORNING OF THE CONFERENCE A PANEL DISCUSSION WAS HELD CONSISTING OF MANY

PROMINENT MUS ICIANS NOW LIVING ON THE PACIFIC COAST. MENTION WAS AGAIN MADE OF THE POOR FINANCIAL STATUS OF MOST MUSICIANS, ONE Of THE SPEAKERS WHO HAD STUDIED CONDITIONS IN EUROPE

TOLD OF THE STATE ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO MUSIC IN GERMANY. EVERY LARGE CITY HAD A CIVIC ORCHESTRA, PAID FCR BY THE CITV ITSELF. TALENT WAS GIVEN EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT POSSIBLE. THERE

WAS S TA TE aRCHES TRAS WITH HIGH PA I D CONDUCTORS AND S TA TE OPERAS WERE SPONSORED BY THE GOVEHN-MENT. I N ALL THE CONFERENCE WAS A MOS T ENCGURAG I NG AND EDUCA T 10NAL EVENT AND LED ONE TO

BELIEVE THAT IF ALL AHT GROUpS WERE AFFILIATED WITH THE COMMUNITVARTS COUNCIL A MUCH

STRONGER FHONT COULD DE BROUGHT TO DARE ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE ARTS AND A CLIMATE CREATED WH ERE IN THESE ARTS WOULD FLOURISH.

THE FIRST VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

CRITICISM BY NOTED MUSIC CRITICS OF ANY MUSICAL UNDERTAKING IS PERHApS THE GREATEST

COMPLIMENT THAT CAN DE AWARDED, IF THAT BE TRUE THEN THE FIRST VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL

FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. CRITICS FROM MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ATTENDED OUR FESTIV/\L AND HAD MUCH TO SAY, GOOD AND NOT-SO-GOOD.

MOST OF THE CRITICS AGREE THAT WE HAVE THE NUCLEOUS OF A FIRST-CLASS ORCHESTRA IN THE

VANCOUVER SYMPHONY. AT PRESENT THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT SUFFICIENTLV GOOD TO ADVERTISE AS AN

ATTRACTION IN OTHER COUNTRIES. WE ARE ASKING OUR REGULAR CONDUCTOR, MR. IRWIN HOFFMAN, ( OR

A NV 0 THER CONDUC TOR ) TO PERFORM A N I M pass IOLE TASK 1 N COM PE T I NG AGA I NS T SUCH ORCHES TRAS AS THE BOSTON SVMPHONY. YET SUCH IS THE CALIGER OF THE ORCHESTRA WE HAVE IN MIND, TO CREATE A fOUNDATION FOR ANY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC WORTHY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION FROM ENGLAND OR THE U.S.A.

ONE Of THE OUTSTANDING SYMPHONY CONCERTS WAS ON SUNDAY, JULY 27TH, CONDUC T E D GY OUR

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THE FIRST VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (C6NT'D)

IRWIN HOFFMAN. AT THIS CONCERT THE REMARKAOLE GLENN GOULD VlAC NOT ABLE TO ECLIpSE THE RE,ST or THE PROGRAMME AS HE DID WITH THE C.B,C, C HAMBEr< ORCHESTRA, UNDER JOHN AVISON, GLENN GOULD WAS SO OUTSTANDING AS TO MAKE' THE REST OF THE PROGRAMME APPEAR MEDIOCRE.

THE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, HOVIEVER, REDEEMED THEMSELVES UNDER THE BATON OF NICHOLAS GOLDSCH-MIDT, THE ORCHESTRA THOUGH SMALL, GAVE A OEAUTIFUL INTEflPRETATION TO A WELL CHOSEN PROGRAMME. NICHOLAS GOLDSCHMIDT DREW FROM HIS OR CHESTRA OF THEIR VERY OEST.

NOT QUITE SO SUCCESSFUL WAS GOLDSCHMIDTS CONDUCTION OF THE ORCHESTRA AT THE OPERA DON GIOVANI, WITH ONE HALF OF HIS PJ.AYEF�S ON fLOOR LEVEL AND THE OTHER HALf BURIED I,N THE PIT, ALMOST OUT OF SIGHT, PERHApS HE DID REM,\RKAOLY'WELL, OUT ONE EXPECTED MORt:, VIE EXPECT M ORE BACKGROUND TO THE'MUS,ICAL DRAMA THAN WAS ACHIEVED. ON THE WHOLE, HOWEVER, THE OPERA REACHED A VERY HIGH LEVEL,

MOST OUTSTANDING Of THE WHOLE fESTIVAL WAS THE REMARKABLE PLAYING OF GLEN GOULD. HEARING THIS ARTIST ON RADIO OR HI FI IS A TREAT BUT NOT TO OE COMPARED TO HEARlr�G HIM IN PERSON, HIS PECULIAR MANNERISMS, CRITICIZED BY MANY, DO NOT TO OUF� MIND DISTRACT FROM HIS PERFORMANCE. THEY ARE DEflNATELY PART Of HIS PERSONALIT� AND THAT SAME PERSONALITY IS EXCEEDINGLY ENGAGING.

WE WERE PLEASED TO HEAR THAT SEVEf(AL Of OUR MEMBERS ATTENDED THE CONCErns BY THE FESTIVAL STRING QUARTETE. IT WAS AN EDUCATION AND AN INSPIRATION TO HEAR THE "OLD MASTERS" PLAYED ON TO PERFECTION BY THE "YOUNG MASTERS", To LIsTEN TO SZYMON GOLDBERG AS FIRST VIOLINIST PLAYING MAGNIFICIENTLY ON HIS aUARMARI WAS A TREAT IN ITSEL F AND THE VIOLA UNDcn THE HANDS Of WILLIAM PRIMROSE BECOMES A THING OF DEAUTY.

WE CANNOT END THIS ARTICLE wlnioUT MENTION OF THE SUf'EflB SINGING OF THE NORWEGIAN SomANO INGnlD BJONER. SHE GAVE US PROOADLYSOME OF THE FINEST SINGING AND INTERPRETAT'ION HEARD IN

VANCOUVER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, A SYMPATHETIC VOICE WITH COMPLETE CONTROL, AND A PERSONALITY WHICH PLACES HER AUDIENCE IN A RETENTIVE MOOD.

ALTOGETHER THE FIRST VANCOUVER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC WAS AN UNDOUOTED SUCCESS, THOSE RESPON­SIBLE FOR ITS PflODUCTION' WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE FOri ANOTHER YEAR, AND WE CAN WELL LOOK FORWARD TO THE FRU 1 TS OF THA T EX PER I ENCE,

THE ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF VIOLIN MAKERS AND MUSICI,\NS

THE SUCCESS OF THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF B.C. HAS INSPIRED A SIMILAR ORGANIZATION IN ARIZONA WITH THE AOOVE TITLE,

OUR GOOD FRIEND BOB WALLACE WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORIGINATORS OF THIS ENT ERPR'IZE AND IS ITS VICE-PRESIDENT. WE WISH OUR OFFSPRING EVERY SUCCESS AND LONG LifE,

THE SOCIETY IS ON SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT LINES TO OURS IN THAT IT INCLUDES VIOLIN MAKERS, PLAYERS AND TEACHERS - PLAYERS, TO TRY OUT VIOLINS AND CREATE ENTERTAINMENT, TEACHERS TO FOSTER THE ART Of VIOLIN PLAYING AND MAKERS TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND FOR MODERf,TELY PRICED INSTRUMENTS, TRUL Y A TR I PLE fORM OF CLUB MUCH TO OE DES IRED,

THIS NEW ORGANIZATION HAS ALREADY PUOLISHED ITS FIRST MONTHLY PU8LICATION BUILT ON SIMILAR LINES TO OUR JOURNAL, IT IS A VERY NEAT AFFAIR.

"I AM AUlA YS READY TC LEARN, ALTHOUGH 100 NOT ALWAYS LIKE OEING TAUGHT," IV I NS TON CHURCH I LL

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OBSERVATIONS ON VIOLIN MAKING DY S, KUJAWA, ST, PAUL 6, MINN.

I DElIEVE: THE VIOLIN MUST DE PREPAflED IN THE WHITE, OUT I 00 NOT ElELIEVE IN PUTTING Oil INTO THE WOOD. THEY ARE rAlLING INTO ERROR HERE WITH Oil ALSO, SOME ARE GOING AS rAR AS TO GIVING THE INSIDE or THE VIOLIN A LIGHT COAT OF VARNISH, I HAVE A SPECIAL SIZE THAT DOES NOT OREAK DOWN, OR SINK VERY DEEPLY IN THE WOOD, THERE IS NC OIL IN THE WOOD OF THE OLD MASTERS OUT THEY DID HAVE A COAT or SIZE, THAT IF PUT ON TOO HEAVY THE OIL VARNISH WOULD HAVE A TENDENCY TO CHIP OFF THIS SIZE, THE REASON Fon THIS SIZE I'IAS THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT THE OIL FROM THE Oil VARNISH IN THEIR VIOLIN, NEXT TIME YOU HANDLE AN OIL CAN THAT IS LINSEED Oil, PICK UP SOME OF THE DRIED OIL, NOTICE HOW EASILY IT CRUMBLES AND HOW COARSE IT IS, AND IT IS A GREAT SOUND DEADNER. Nrx T GE T SOME FRENCH F I L TER PA PER FROM A DRUG S TORE AND F I L TEl< SOME LINSEED OIL, DOlLED OR RAW, THEY ARE DOTH THE SAME ONLY THE SO CALLED BOILED HAS A DRYER IN IT, AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH GREASE AND DIRT IS lN IT, THE LINSEEb o i L YOU BUY IN ART STORES, SUCH AS DRYING OIL OR STANO OIL IS FAR BETTtR, OR IF YOU ARE ACQUAINTED IN SOME VARNISH FACTORY' YOU CAN GET VARNISH OIL REAL REASONABLE, THE flEASON MAPLE AND SPRUCE ARE CHOSEN rOR VIOLINS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS TANIC ACID, GUMS OR TURPS IN THEM SO WHY TRY TO FILL THE PORES OF THE WOOD WITH LINSEED OIL,

AOOUT ONE, A STRAD IS HARDER TO PULL A TONE OUT OF THAN ALL OTHERS AND GUARNARIUS IS STILL HARDER, AN ELASTIC TONE DOES NOT MEAN THAT TONE COMES OUT EASY. I BELIEVE I COULD TELL A GUARNARIUS JOSEPH VIOLIN BLIND FOLDED BY THE WAY IT PULLS, IT PULLS HARDER AND THE DOW MUST MOVE FASTER, TO GET THE UTMOST OUT OF IT, IN A WAY ITS ALMOST FOOLISH TO TALK THIS WAY, VJHEN I CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING,

I AM POLISH, AT AN EARLY AGE I BECAME INTERESTED IN VIOLIN MAKING. I KNEW ERNEST KRUHl OF GEf<MANY, OR ' SHOULD I HAVE SA 10 THE KRUHL OR OTHERS, DO TH DEAD NOW. I HUNG AROUND HIS 5 HO P, EAGER TO LEARN.

THE WAY I WORK, I CARVE OUT A BUNCH OF DACKS THEN TOPS, THEN HEADS, THEN RIDS, AND PUR-FLING, NOT ALWAYS IN THAT ROTATION OUT ALWAYS QUITE A FEW AT A TIME, STRAD NEVER BUILT A VIOLIN DELOW 7/64 OR EVEN 8/64, OUT I DON'T CAr<E TO GET INTO ANY ARGUMENTS ABCUT IT. WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD BOW MAKERS HERE, ONE A GERMAN, HIS BOWS I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY DETTER,

SOME DAY I'M GOING TO TAKE TIME OUT AND TELL YOU THE TRUE STORY OF VIOLINS T ODAY, OUT ITS QUITE A STORY,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DEAR MR. WH I TE:

I VJISH TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING FOR THE ART OF VIOLIN MAKING, AND I TRUST THAT YOU WILL DE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR ENDEAVORS TO DEVELOP THIS CRAFT IN B.C,

PLEASE FIND MY CHEQUE FOR A YEAR'S SUDSCRIPTION, IRWIN HOFFMAN, CONDUCTOR, V ... NC0UVER SYMPHONY,

COMMENTS ON VIOL I N VARNISH By ERNEST LINDBERG

IN DEALING WITH VARNISH fOR VIOLINS, WE HAVE A NUMDE� OF FORMULAS DATING DACK FOR CENTURIES, AND EVEN NOW SOME EXPERTS WILL INFORM US, THAT HE HAS SOLVED THE "GREAT MYSTERY" OF THE VARNISH THAT WAS USED AT CREMONA IN ITALY CENTURIES AGO,

SOME OF OUR MEMBERS MAY HAVE HAD IN THEIR HANDS SOME OF THE DEST VIOLINS THAT WERE MADE IN THE WORKSHOPS AT CREMONA DURING THE TIME OF STRAD. AND OTHERS, AND NO DOUBT ADMIRED THE WONDERFUL TRANSPARENCY AND COLOR AND SHADING Of THOSE VIOLINS, THE COLOR AND VARNISH USED AT CREMONA WAS NO DOUOT OF AN ORGANIC NATURE, AND THE SAME MUST BE TRUE RE: THE PAINTS AND VARNISHES USED GY THE ARTISTS AT THAT TIME.

MR, E,H. SANGSTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS DOES AWAY WITH THIS "GREAT MYSTERY" WITH A FEW STROKES

1- 11-6

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COMMENTS ON VIOLIN VAR NIS H (CONT'D)

OF THE PEN, WHEN HE SAYS: "THE�E WASN'T ANY SECRET, THEY ALL KNEW WHAT TO DO, SOME WITH MORE SUCCESS THAN OTHERS, I AM SURE THEY ALL USED RAW LINSEED OIL - BUT WHAT ELSE DID THEY USE, IF

ANYTHING? THEY COULD HAVE VSED TURPENTINE MIXED WITH FIR RESIN, PINE RESIN, LARCH RESIN, COPAL, MASTIC OR EVEN BENZoiN."

WHEN I READ MR. E.H. SANGSTER'S LETTER ON VIOLIN MAKING� I WISHED THAT I COULD GO TO CREMONA, LET US SAY IN THE SUMMER OF 1680 TO PAY A VISIT TOSTRAD, IN HIS WORKSHOP. I WOULD

NO DOUOT HAVE FOUND HIM \�ITH A LOT OF CUPS CONTAINING RESINS FROM DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREES AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF GUMS SUCH AS DRAGON OLOOD AND GAMDOGE, ETC. AND ALSO A LOT OF PIECES OF MAPLE AND SPRUCE COVERED WI TH DIFFERENT COLORS OF VARNISH.

GRANT I NG THA T I COULD UNDERS TAND HIS LA NGUAGE HE WOULD NO DOUB T EX PLA I N TO ME VI I TH GREA T PRIDE THE WONDERFUL TRANSPARENCY AND COLOR HE GOT OY MIXING THE VARIOUS RES I NS AND GUMS TO-GETHER. HE WILL NO DOUOT TELL ME THAT HE FOUND RAW LINSEED OIL THE OEST FOR MIXING THE RESINS AND GUMS IN, HE MAY HAVE, UP ON THE LOFT THE LATEST MASTERPIECE THAT HE HAD MADE FOR SOME DUKE OR O THER "BIG SH OT", AND HE WOULD TAKE ME UP TO SEE IT, AND HE WOULD WITHGUT A DOUOT TELL ME, "THE DIG TROUDLE I HAVE, IT TAKES SO LONG FOR THE VIOLIN TO DRY, BUT MY GREAT CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO WAIT THATS ALL." MR� E.H. S ANGS TER MUST DE niGHT IN SAVING THAT THERE NEVER \VAS ANY MYSTERY ADOUT THE VIOLIN V.'RNISH USED AT CREMONA.

GOING BACK 2 O� 3 CENTWRIES, WE ARE FORCED TO ADMIT AS A FACT, THAT THE VARNISH AND COLORS USED BY TH� VIOLIN MAKERS AND ARTISTS THEN WERE MADE FROM ORGANIC FLUIDS AND GUMS TAKEN F ROM VEGETATION.

To BE CONSCIOUS THAT YOU ARE IGNORANT I S A GREA T S TE P TO KNOWLEDGE

DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIOLIN FORM By CLARENCE COOPER, FOREST COUNSEL, VICTORIA, B.C.

THE CONTOURS OF THE VIOLIN ARE LIKE THE OUTLINE OF A MUSICAL COMPOSITION WH I CH IS MOULDED IN CURVES OF SOUND. THE VIOLIN TOO EXHIOITS THIS PHENOMENON OUT THE RANGE OF SOUND IS LIMITED,

BY THE RIBS OF THE INTERIOR. THE RIOS OF THE VIOLIN FORM ONE BOUNOARY OF THE SOUND WAVES AND ARE THE REFLECT I NG WALLS FROM WHICH THEY BOUNCE. LIKE THE HARMONY EXPRESSED BY THE MUSICAL INTERVALS, THE RIGS HAVE TO'OE AT INTERVAL D I ST,'<NCES THAT ARE IN HARMONY. THE PROPOSED OUTLINE I S OF THE INTl:RiOF< OF THE VIOLIN FROM WHICH AN INTERIOR MOULD COULD DE CONSTRUCTED AND WILL

BE DASED ON A SIMPLE FORM USING THE MAJOR THIRD INTERVAL WHICH IS 5 TO 4 AS THE OASIS WITH A FEW INDICATIONS AS TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS.

BEFORE GIVING THE DETAILS OF THE DESCRIPTION, A FEW PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE MADE. A GENERAL RULE IS THAT THE LONGITUDINAL PROPORTIONS ARE OASED ON THE OCTAVES I.E. 2 TO RELATIONSHIP AND THE WIDTH DIRECTIONS AFlE BASED ON THE MAJOR THIRD I,E:. 5 TO 4, HOWEVER, IN

THE CONS I DERA T ION or THE PROBLEMS OF WID TH THERE ARE SEVERAL MAJOR TH I AD 0 IMENS IONS OF DIFFERENT PROPORT I ONS WHICH IT IS NOT INTENDED TO ELABORATE ON, GUT MERELY POINT THEM OUT.

FURTHER, THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THE COMPARABLE DIMENSIONS ARE A COMBINATION Of TWO MAJOR THIRDS OR ALTERNATIVELY THE DIFFERENCES,

OTHER ME THODS Of DRAW I NG THE V I OL I N HAVE FR eDUCED AN eUTL I NE OF THE TO P OR BACK [3 Y STAR T­ING WITH A LINE REPRESENTING THE LENGTH OF, THE nODY Of THE INSTRUM:::NT AND THEN DIVIDING IT

INTO 72 EQUAL �RTS. THE METHOD PRESENTED HEfiE IS SIMILAR EXCEPT THAT THE LINE REPRESENTS THE LENGTH OF THE INTE�,IOR OF' THE VIOLIN. USUALLY THIS LENG TH IS 35 CENTIMETERS OR L3 L3/L6 INCHES, THE'LENGTH IS A MATTER OF CHOICE AS THE OTHER DIMENSIONS WILL BE PROPORTIONATE. THE CHOICE or 72 DIVISIONS IS A HAPPY ONE AS IN COMPUTING THE PROPORTIONS, THE NUMBERS ARE FOR THE MOST PART WHOLE NUMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE 32 TO 40 IS THE PROPORTION OF 4 TO 5, LIKEWISE 16 TO 20

IS THE SAME PROPORTION OUT AN OCTAVE HIQHCR OY COMPARISON. LIKEWISE, GEVERAL OTHER COMPARISONS

CAN DE DEVELOPED FOR THE VAR 10US INTERVALS, THEilE ARE OTHER RAM If ICA T IONS ON THE USE OF THE NUMBERS, AS DISTANCES OR ANGLES, WHICH WOULD BE TOO LENGTHY TO SET FORTH HERE.

I - II - 7

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE V I OL I N FORM (CONT' 0)

THE PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS TO MAKE THE DRAWING CAN NOW DE MADE, FIRST TAKE A PIECE OF

STOUT THREAD AND TIE A SMALL LOOP AT THE END, GIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE A PENCIL POINT, NEXT

USE A LARGE SHEET OF CARDOOARD AND ON IT DRAW THE LINE WHICH WILL BE THE CENTRE LINE OF THE

DIAGRAM, THIS IS THE LINE SUGGESTED AS 35 CENTIMETERS LONG. DIVIDE THIS LINE INTO 72 PARTS

AND AT THE TOP, WHICH IS ZERO, PUT THE LE T TE R A . AT THE POINT 24 DOVIN FROM A PUT THE LETTER

C AND AT THE ElOTTOM, WHICH IS "72", PUT THE LETTER 8, NEXT, DRAW LINES AT fliGHT ANGLES TO THIS CENTRE LINE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING POINTS FOR A DISTANCE ON EACH SIDE 0f THE CENTRE LINE

AS FOLLOVIS: ( SEE FIG, I ) ,

AT 1.4 2/5 A DISTANCE OF 4 D IV IS IONS & LETTER DD ,. 24 " " 24 " 11 JJ " 27 " ,. 14 2/5" " FF " 32 ,. 42 " II HH " 37 II " 1.7 " II GG " 45 " " 26 4/5" " KK " 56 ,. " 5 " " EE

P, LSO, Di'<AW LINES THROUGH THE POINTS 20, 42, AND 48 fOR REFERENCE, PLACE PINS UPRIGHT AT

ALL THE POINTS LISTED ABOVE EXCEPT AT .J,K, A & B.

Now ATTACH THE THREAD MENTIONED ADOVE TO THE PIN AT C AND WITH RADIUS CA DRAW AN ARC FROM A ON EACH SIDE OF THE CENTRE LINE TO THE LINE THROUGH 20. IN THE PROCESS THE THREAD WILL FOUL

AGAINST THE PINS AT D AND SWING AS A CONTINUOUS CURVE TO THE LINE THRCUGH POINT 20. NEXT, WITH THE THREAD STILL FASTENED TO THE POINT C OUT WITH THE RADIUS CB DRAW A CURVE STARTING AT

8 ON Et,CH SIDE: OF THE CENTRE LINE TO THE LINE 48. AGAIN, YOU WILL NOTICE THE THREAD I'J I LL fOUL AGAINST THE PINS AT E AND PRCDUCE A CONTINUOUS CURVE TO THE LINE THROUGH THE POINT AT 48,

NEXT, FASTEN THE THREAD TO THE PIN In PO·INT H AND WiTH A RADIUS HAVING A DISTANCE OF 2�. DIVISIONS PAST THE POINTF ON A LINE FROM H TO F PRODUCED, DRAW THE CURVE STARTING OEHIND THE

POINT F AND SWINGING AROUND THE POINT F DOWN ACROSS THE LINE THROUGH THE POINT 32 AND CON­TINUING DOWN TO SWING AROUND THE PIN AT G. THIS CUR VE WILL TOUCH THE LINE THROUGH THE PO INT 42 AND GO ON DEYOND.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO SMALL CURVES REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE DIAGRAM. WITH A COMPASS AND

CENTER AT J, AND FOR A DISTANCE fROM THE P01NT WHERE THE FIRST CURVE DRAWN CUTS THE LINE

THROUGH THE LINE AT POINT 20, DRAW A CURVE FOR THIS POINT TO TOUCH THE CURVE DRAWN AROUND F.

NEX � USING THE COMPASS AND CENTER AT K WITH A RADIUS FROM K TO THE POINT WHERC THE SECOND

CURVE DRAWN CUTS THE LINE THROUGH 48, DRAW THE CURVE FROM THIS POINT TO TOUCH THE CURVE fORMED AROUND THE POINT G,

Now TO POINT OUT A FEW OF THE OOVIOUS MAJOR THIR D AND OCTAVE r�ELATIONSHIPS - THE DISTANCE

FROM THE CENTER LINE TO THE POINT D IS 4 AND fROM THE CENTER LINE TO THE POINT E IS 5 - MAKING

A fUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP Of THE MAJOR THIRD OF THE UPPER AND TO THE LOWER DOUT, THE LONGI-

TUDINAL DISTANCE CB IS 48 AND CA IS 24: (=72) IS THE RELATIONSHIP Of THE OCTAVE, 2 TO I.

SIMILARIL� THE DISTANCE FROM r TO THE CURVE IS 2t AND FROM G TO THE CURVE AT THE LINE THROUGH 42 IS 5 WHICH IS THE OCTAVE I TO 2. THE EXPLANATION OF THE SUMMATIONS AND DIFFERENCES AND THE

RESIDUAL DISTANCES THAT OCCUR IS TOO COMPLEX TO DE READILY EXPLAINED IN TH IS SHORT SUMMARY,

MODifiCATIONS CAN OE MADE IN THE DRAWING IN VARIOUS PLACES, SUCH AS IN THE LOWER OOUTS,

THE TOP PART OF THE UPPER OOUTS AND THE LOWER rART OF THE MIDDLE DOUTS, SUCH MODIFICATIONS

CAN DE ACCOMPLISHED DY REPEATING THE PROPORTION AT THE TRANSITION OF THE CURVES.

A NEW VERB ION OF "THE FACTS OF LIFE" WAS PRESENTED OY JIMMY, AGED EIGHT. HE WAS

ASSIGNED DY HIS TEACHER TO VIP-ITt A PIECE ADOUT HIS ORIGIN. SEEKING COCPEf1ATION,

HE QUESTIONED HIS MOTHER: "MOM, WHERE DID GRANDMA COME FROM?"

"THE STORK DROUGHT GRANDMA, DARLING,"

"lIJELL WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?" PURSUED JIMMY,

I - II - 8

"THE STORK CRO UGHT M E TOO," "AND ME TOO?" "AND YO U TOO, DEAR"

- 9 -

R ES I GNEDLY J I MMY WR OTE TH E L EAD FOR HIS C OMPOS I T I O N : " T H E R E HAVE OEEN N O NATURAL OIRTHS IN O U R FAMILY FOR THRE E G E NERATIO NS,"

DEVELOFMENT OF THE V I OL I N FORM DIAGRAM

..

I

\

\ DO 4 0 \ 14 2/5 )

20 L

/ C 24 / J \ J �----�------���------__ � ______ _ ; \:�/5-- ZS._ .... /

H • ______ . __ _____ ___ ___ -4{ ____ ....,3_2 ___ -"1--______ _________ H

G ) __ --+", ::l�7_. _ __ .�\G 42

K

._ ," 1 7 42 "--, "

J' .. J ______ - ' . ( .. _. ___ .• ___ .4.5. .. .

f- 26 4/5 48 \

( 5

"

\, ',--

... -�. - " --- .. --" OBSERVATIONS BY DR. NICHOLAS - M E NTON-GARAVAN , FR ANCE

K

YOUR TWO HINTS AOOU T F I N I SH I NG I NSTR UM E NTS ARE I NTEREST I NG . THE C OAT OF G L U E O N W O OD VERY M UC H D E PENDS ON T H E QUAL I TY OF TH E G L UE. IF I T I S HYGR OSCOP I C L I KE OLD SC I TCH I T I S NO USE, B UT WE H AVE NOW SEVERAL E X C E L L E N T G L UES L I KE CORDID FOR EXAMPL E WHICH C A N DE OF USE .

I H AVE READ ADOUT PR O PO L I S BEFORE, OUT C A NNOT SEE THE NEC ESSITY OF R ODOING TH E DEES, WHILE WE CAN PRO D U C E A S I M I LAR SUBSTANCE SYNTHETICALLY, My GEL I EF I S THAT WE SHALL DE ADLE TO MAK E SOMETH I NG DETTER THAN TH E STRAD WITH ALL THE ADVANC E OF SC I ENC E WE ARE LIVING I N NOW. FOR EXAM PLE, WE K N OW THAT W O O D C O NS I STS MOSTI.Y OF CELL ULOSE , IF YOU BUY AT THE C H EMIST A FEVI GRAMMES OF C E LL ULOSE AC ETATE AND D I SSOLVE I T IN ACETO N E YOU WILL FINO A VERY G OOD SUDSTANCE TO SEAL THE POR ES OF WOOD, A SMALL ADD I T I ON OF DE NZINE ( AFTER SOLUT I ON ) W I L L M A K E IT DRY A D I T SLOWEf1.

I HAVE NOT H EARD'ANYTHING'

�ET FROM YOUR F R I END B OD WALLAC E , OUT H OPE HE WILL WR I TE M E AD O UT H I S E X PE R I ENCES, I T IS VERY HELPFUL TC EXCHANGE I DEAS AND H I NTS, ESPEC I ALLY DETWEEN P E O PLE WHO ARE NO T PROFESS I ONAL D EALERS I N I NSTRUM E NTS - WE AR E NCT MAK I NG MONEY O UT OF OTHER C H APS' WORK ,

IF Y O U C O ULD KIC K TH E PERSON RESPONS I DL E FOR MOST OF YO UR TRO UCLES YOU WOULD N'T DE A8LE TO S I T D O W N FOR S I X MONTH S ,

I - I I - 9

DON WHITE, EDITOR

THE VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL

PUBLISHED BY THE VIOLIN MAKERS' ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

VOLUME I • • • • • • NO. L2 .... . ... . ... . . .. . . VANCOUVER, B.C . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . OCTOBER, ,L958

EOITORIAL

"TO BE CONSCIOUS T HAT YOU ARE IGNORANT

I S A GREA T S TE P TO KNOWLEDGE" DISRAELI.

ON THE APPROACH TO ANY SUBJECT THAT ENTAILS EXTENSIVE STUDY THE F"IRST REACTION, Af.-TER A SUPERr IC I AL SURVEY, IS ONE OF CONCE IT.. WE F"EEL, AT FIRS T, THA T WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND DELIGHT TO INfORM OTHERS Of OUR GROWING KNOWLEDGE. PRESENTLY, HOWEVER, AS OUR STUDY BE-COMES MORE SERIOUS, WE BEGIN TO REALIZE THE INCREDIBLE IGNORANCE THAT ENGULF"S US. THIS REALI-ZATION IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF" KNOWLEDGE.

THIS TRUTH HAS BEEN UTILIZED BY MANY PEOPLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A VIRTUE OUT OF IGNORANCE. THEY ADVERTISE THEIR IGNORANCE AS A SUGGESTION OF SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE.

THE TRULY WISE MAN IS A HUMBLE INDIVIDUAL. EDISON ONCE SAID OF" A CERTAIN MAN, "HE DOES NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO BE SO HUMBLE."

,THERE ARE VIOLIN MAKeRS IN OUR GROUP WHO HAVE, I BELIEVE, REACHED THIS SECOND STJlGE, THE COMMENCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, A REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE STILL MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT OUR C RAFT,

PERHAPS THAT IS THE FASCINATION or OUR CHOOSEN HOBBY. THE THOUGHT THAT HOWEVER DILIGENTLY WE STUDY AND EXPERIMENT WE WILL NEVER REACH PERFECTION.

UPON THE COMPLETION 'OF OUR FIRST INSTRUMENT ENTHUSIASM OVERCOMES US. THEN, AS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE GROWS, WE ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT OUR WORK IS FAR FROM THE IDEAL WE HAVE SET AND WE FEAR THAT WE MIGHT NEVER ENJOY SUCCESS.

AT THiS PERIOD THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND PERHAPS OF COMPI£ TE SECESSION. THERE IS A DEMAND ON OUR SENSES OF SOME STIMULANT TO ACTIVATE ANEW OUR ENERGIES. THIS STIMU-LANT CAN ONLY BE F"0UND IN THAT INSTINCT, OR URGE TO SUCCEED, THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND AN OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO SUCCEE. AT ANY PRICE.

IN COMPETITION THIS PSYCHOl.OGICAL rACT IS VERY EVIDENT AND MANY OF US ARE: STILL IN THE FIRST PHASE. ONLY WHEN WE ACCEPT THE FACT THAT OUR INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH, WILL WE RECEIVE THE STIMULENT TO PRODUC E BETTER WORK.

OUR GOAL MUST BE TO PRODUCE A VIOLIN SO OUTSTANDING AS FOR THERE TO BE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS WORTHY. or ANY AWARD,

EDITORIAL FROM ARIZONA VIOliN MAKERS' JOURNAL

THE THING THAT MAKES DESIRABLE AND EXCITING THE POSSESSION OF A FINE VIOLIN IS ITS TONE -ITS FLEXIBIL I TY OF EXPRESSION, ITS CLOSE APPROACH TO THE HUMAN VOICE; AND ITS OTHER HUMAN CHARACTERISTIC, INDIVIDUALITY, AND EVERY VIOLIN IS DIFfERENT. EVERY FINE INSTRUMENT HAS ITS ADVOCATES, BUT WUITE OFTEN WE riND, EVEN AMONG FINE PERFORMERS, DIFFERENCES or OPINION CON­CERNING A PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT. ONE VIOLIN MAY APPEAL TO ONE PERSON MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN THE SAME VIOLIN VlILL TO ANOTHER PERSON, IN THE SAME WAY THAT FEELINGS OF" PEOPLE WILL VARY AS REGARDS ONE ANOTHER,

A FINE VIOLIN, IN THE HANDS OF A SYMPATHETic PLAYER, IS CAPABLE OF A TREMENDOUS RANGE OF'

EXPRESSION. I T CAN EXPRESS EVERY HUMAN PASSION, AND MUCH MORE BEAUTIfULLY AND POWERFULLY

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EDITORIAL FROM ARIZONA VIOLIN MAKERS' JOURNAL ( CONT'D )

THAN WE CAN DO IT WITH WORDS, ONE MOMENT IT MAY BE TENDER; WHISPERING GENTLY THE HAUNTING, FRAGILE WISP �F A MELODY OF A BEAUTIFUL LOVE SONG; AND THE NEXT MOMENT IT MAY GIVE US THE SOUND OF A RAG I NG STORM AT SEA - OR A GL IMPSE OF THE MERRY DANCES OF A GERMAN WEDD I NG. IT CAN SHOW US WITH ·TONES THE "COLD, BLEAK, .. ICY NORTH COUNTRY, OR PAINT US A PICTURE OF THE SUNNY SOUTHLANDS, IN BRtEF, ·THE VIOLIN IS THE ONE INSTRUMENT THAT MAY BE SAID TO POSSESS A SOUL,

SINCE THE DAYS OF THE CLASSICAL MAKERS, THOUSANDS OF MEN HAVE DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE VIOLIN MAkER'S ART. SOME FINE INSTRUMENTS, WITH WONDERFUL PLAYING QUALITIES, HAVE BEEN PRO-DUCED AND, AS ONE GENERATION AFTER ANOTHER HAS PASSED, ILLUSTRIOUS NAMES HAVE BEEN ADDEO TO THE LIST OF GREAT VIOLIN MAKERS. BUT THESE ARE EXCEPTIONS. THE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN PERSONS OF ORDINARY ATTAINMENTS WHOSE LABOUR PRODUCED ONLY HAPHAZARD RESULTS,

AMONG THE LATTER CLASS THERE HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS ARE SOME WHO HARP ABOUT THE LOS T CREMONA SECRETS AND WHO ENDEAVOUR TO DUPLICATE ACCIDENTS, LABORING UNDER THE DELUSION THAT THIS CAN BE DONE. VARNISH, PICKLING PROCESSES, GRADUATING BY THE LIGHT OF A CANDLE PROPORTIONING WOOD TO AIR SPACE, TUNING THE TOP AND BACK TO CERTAIN MUSICAL NOTES, SWABBING THE INSIDE WITH THE WHITE OF AN EGG, FREAK BASS BARS AND RATTLESNAKE RATTLES ARE BUT A FEW OF THE LONG LIST Of DISCOVERIES.

THE MERIT OF THESE DIFFERENT D ISCOVERIES IS ABOUT THE SAME IN EACH INSTANCE. THAT IS, NONE OF THEM ARE OF ANY VALUE, IN SP I TE OF THESE AGE OLD PREJUD ICES, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN SO LARGE A P ROPORTION OF VIOLINS BEING BUILT WERE OF SUPERICR TONE VALUE AS TODAY. VIOLIN MAKERS NOW POSSESS THE ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE OF FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AND ALSO A BETTER K NOWLEDGE OF VIOLIN ACOUSTICS THAN EVER BEFORE.

WITH THESE fOREGOING THOUGHTS IN MIND, A GROUP OF VIOLIN MAKERS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN GOT TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT FURTHERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIOLIN MAKING IN ARIZONA. THE OUTCOME IS AN ASSOCIATION THAT SHOULD SOON BE STATE-WIDE IN SCOPE. ARTICLES fROM RECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES AROUND THE WORLD, AND fROM PROFESSORS AT OUR OWN UNIVERSITIES SUGGESTS THAT THIS LITTLE MAGAZINE COULD BE AS ENTERTAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE TO VIOLIN MAI(ERS AND MUSICIANS ALIKE.

As YOUR FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, I HOPE TO GIVE OF MYSELF AND MY TIME TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

SINCERELY YOURS GARLAND T. GREEN

THE IMPORTANCE OF TUN I N G PLATES:

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VIE HAVE, THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THESE PAGES EXPRESSED ADMIRATION FOR THE WORK OF DR. SAUNDERS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HE HAS APPROACHED THE ART OF VIOLIN MAKING FROM THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLE, AND HIS LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF HIS FINDINGS TO DATE.

THE LAST TWO ISSUES OF THE "STRAD" MAGAZINE CONTAIN HIS LATEST EXPERIMENTS, DR. SAUNDERS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A PREVIEW OF THESE OBSERVATIONS SOME MCNTHS AGO BUT I THOUGHT IT ONLY ETHICAL TO WAIT UNTIL THEY APPEARED IN THE "STRAD" BEfORE COMMENTING ON THEM. I AM NOVi AT LIBERTY TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENTS OF THESE ARTICLES TO OUR READERS,

To MY MIND HIS LATEST WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN VIOLIN CONSTRUCTION. IT RENDERS THE ORTHODOX METHOD OF GRADUATION OBSOLETE, AND BRINGS IT TO THE LEVEL OF COMMON SENSE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DECIDE JUST HOW DENSE THE WOOD IS THAT YOU MAY BE WORKING ON. NOW WE ARRIVE AT THAT DECISION BY A SCIENTIFIC r�ETHOD OF TUNING THE PLA TES.

THE REMARKABLE ASPECT OF HIS INVESTIGATION IS THE FACT THAT, TO USE HIS OWN WORDS, QUOTE:

"THROUGHOUT ALL OF THiS WORK THE GREATEST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE ART AND SKILL OF VIOLIN MAKERS? ESPECIALLY OF THE CREMONA SCHOOL AT THE TIME OF STRADIVARIUS AND GUARNEIUS AND THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THEIR TRADITIONS, SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS IF OUR TESTINGS WERE MERELY A WAY OF DOCUMENTING AND ANALYSING WHAT THEY KNEW 300 YEARS AGO. IT IS TO

I - 12 - 2

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Tlit: 4UPNlTANCf.: OF TUNI NG PLATES (eONT'D)

BE HOPED THAT THIS TYPE Of R�R(."l; WILL 1-lf.:L.� n-rOSE WORKING TOOAY TO PRODUee: A CCNSISTENTLY HIGH LEVEL Of GOOD INS'-RI"E::N'T8 THAT MAY, IN TtME �PPRVX'IMATe 'Ou;: UMTf:RPtECe:& Of' �fOLIN MAKERo& ART SO L� �HPf'{:Lt 6'1' SO MANY."

IT WOULD BE ONLY FITTING AT TH I S TIME TO G I VE CREDIT TO DR. SAUNDERS' ASS('CIATES WHO HAVe

WORKED TIRELESSLY IN CORROBORATION W ITH HIM, MRS, CARLEe:N HUTCHINS, THE VIOLIN r.ll\KER Or THE GROUP, ANO ALVIN HOPPING WHO IS CARRYING ON THE GOOD WORK OF DR. SAUNDERS WHO IS NOW REALLY

RETIRED.

AS THE R E SULTS OF DR, SAUNDERS AND �IS ASSOCIATES WORK IS SOMEWHAT TECHNICAL AND WILL RE­

QUIRE SCME SPACE TO DESCRI8E IN OETAI L, I WILL IN THIS FIR&T ARTICLE SIMPLY GIVE AN O UTL INE Of"

THE: I R ME THODS •

iT is A FACT THAT'MOST GOOD VIOLIN MAKERS HAVE ALWAYS TUNED THEIR PLATES BY SOME METHOD OR OTHER. THEY 00 NOT, HOWEVER, AGREE ON JUST WHAT NOTE EACH FL A TE SHOULD 8E TUNED TO. SHOULD

THE TO P BE NE TONE HIGHER THAN THE BACK OR V I CE VERSA AND WHA T NOTES SHOULD THESE BE?

IN 1820 S�VART'S INVeSTIGAT I ONS LED TO A RULE BEING ESTABLISHED, AND CALLED THE "SAVART RULE". TH IS H ULE STA TES THA T 1HE TOP S HOULD BE A WHOLE 0R ONE-HAlf TONE l.OWER THAN THE SACK.

IT �AS TO ESTABLISH DEFINITE SCIENTIFIC INrORMATION ON THIS CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT THAT LED DR. SAUNDERS AN� HIS ASSOCIATES TO EXPERIMENT ON WHAT THEY CEFINE AS TAP TONES.

fOR THE REMAINDER or THIS ARTICLE 1 WILl. LET THE GOOD DOCTOR SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.

"TH!S IS WHAT MRS. HUTCHI NS DOES. SHE MEASURES (BY MEANS Of PHOTOGRAPHIC STRIPS) THE

TONES Or THE PLATES, SEPAR,\TELY. THEN SHE PUTS THE VIOLIN TOGETHER AND MEAS URES THE RESPONSE:

Of THE COMPLETE: INSTRUMENT. TkEN SHE OPC:NS IT UP, TAKES Off ONE OR 80TH PLATES AND REGRADUA TES IT (PARTIALLY), n:STS IT AGAIN, BEfeRE G LUE I NG IT BACK, AND AGAIN TESTS THE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT. You MUST (AS YOU, DON, SUGGEST) GET THE TAP TONES BE:fORE GL UE I NG THE PLATES TO tHE RIBS, IF THEY COME OUT IN THE I'ROi>£R RELATION TO EACH OTHE.R THEN YOU CAN BE SURE OF A GOOD INSTRUMENT WHEN IT IS ASSEMBLED.

OUR NEW PROCEDURE AUTOMATICAl,LY ALLOWS FOR DiffERENT STIFFNESSES OF WOOD USED. SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN NE.W YOf<K SAY THAT STRAD MUST HAVE DONE JUST WHAT WE RECOMMEND. (So IT

ISNiT NEW:) BECAUSE H 5 THICKNESSES VARY SO MUGH." (TO BE CONTINUED NEXT MONTH ) • • ••

EACH NOBLE WORK IS AT FIRST IMPOSSIBLE

••• ,CARL YLE

REV. GEORGE WRIGHT'S CENTENNI ,L VIOLIN:

THIS BEI �G BRITISH COLUMBIA'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, MEMBERS Or OUR ASSOCIATION WERE ASKED TO

MAKE OR OSTAIN SCME FORM OF VIOLIN SUITABLE FOR THE OCCAS ON. LACK Of' SPACE AT THE H06BYSHOW FORCED US Tt:

' WITHHOLD SEVERAL INSTRUMENTS THAT COULD HAVE 5ERVI::D THIS PURPOSE. ONE I NS TR UMEN T

WE DID o IS PLt.'l'p HOWEVER, AND THIS AN OUTSTANDING VIOLIN MADE BY THE REV, GEO. WRIGHT, PAST VICE­PRESIDENT OF OUR ASSOC IATION.

His PAINSTAKING "'ORK AND TIME SPENT SEARCHI:-<G FOR SUITABLE WOOD ',\AS RE'iiARDED BY HIS WINNING FIRST PRIZE III! THE SECTION "WORK OF ART".

WE COMMEND MR. WRIGHT FOR THE NOV f.L IDEAS EXPRERSED IN HIS INSTRUMENT. NEARLY EVER Y PIECE

Or MA TER I AL USED IN ITS C'')NSTRUCTION HAD SOME rORM OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE TOP PLATE:

WAS ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL HAVING BEEN CUT "ON THE SLAB" �HILE THE TWO CENTENN!�l. SILVER DOLLARS IMBEDOED ON E THER SIDE Of THE SCRO L SHOWED REAL OR I GINALITY.

THE VIOLIN WAS COMPLETE WITH CASE AND BOW, THE LATTER BEING A REPLICA OF THE OLD 15TH CENTURY BOWS. THE CASE \VA COVERED WITH CALfSKIN TA NNED TO A PARCHMENT-LIKE QUALITY AND LINEO VI I TH S OF T SKI NS ,

TO RECORD THE HISTORY Of THE PARTS USED, MR. WR I GHT USED A REAL PIECE OF PARCHMENT, MADE

BY HIMSELF. THIS HE CALLED THE SCROl.L AS IT WAS ROLLED ON TWO STICKS MADE rROM CHERR Y WODO.

I - 12 .. 3

REV , GEO RGE WR I GH T ' S C E N T E NN I A L V I O L I N ( C O N T ' D )

A F UR TH E R D E S C R I PT I O N OF TH E U N I Q UE O U TF I T W O U L D B E S T B E DO NE B Y R E � O D UC I NG TH E WR I T I NG O N TH I S S A M E S C R O LL . I T R EA DS AS F O L L O WS :

THE B A C K , R I B S , A ND N E C K A R E OF B L A C K W A L N U T AND C AM E F ROM TH E O L D Mc LuR E F A R M , A F E W M I LES E A S T OF F O R T L A N G L E Y .

T H E P I C TUR E E TC H E D O N TH E B A C K , I S O F G O V ER NOR J A S , D O UGLAS B E I NG S WO R N I N TO OF F I C E , A S G O V E R NOR B E F O R E J U D G E BEGB I E , I NS I D E THE O L D H UDS O N ' S BA Y F O R T B U I LD I NG, A T F O R T LA N G L E Y I N 1 85 8 .

T wo C E N TE N N I A L D O LLA R S G R A C E T H E S CR O L L OF THE V I O L I N, S HO W I NG O UR � E S E N T Q U E E N E L I Z A8 E TH , A ND A LS O TH E F AM C US TO TEM P O L E A ND TH E Tv/O DA TES , 1 858- 1 958, WH I C H I S A N I DE N T I F I C A T I O N M A R K ,

T H E L A B E L I NS I D E I S - B , C , C E N T E N N I A L _ ( G O V , J A M ES D O UGLAS ) M A D E B Y G E O , R i WR I G H T, 1 95 8 ,

T H E B E L L Y, I S OF LOC A L S PR UC E F R O M E A R L ' S S A W M I L L , J US T W ES T O F F OR T LA NG L E Y .

T H E P UR F L I NG I N B A C K A ND n, O N T I S S KO O K- UM W O O D , F R O M T H E S A LM O N R I V E R , J US T W E S T O F F OR T LA NGLE Y ,

T H E L I N I NG S TR I PS O N THE I NS I D E A R E O F R ED W I LLOW, F R C·M T H E S A L M O N R I V ER ,

T H E C OR NER A ND E ND B L O C KS , A LS O TH E B A S E B A R , A R E O F S PR UC E O U T OF T H E O L D GR I S T M I LL A T F OR T LA NGLE Y, WH E R E F I RS T W H E A T WAS G R O U ND I N B , C ,

T H E F I NGER- B O A R D A ND 4 P E G S , A R E O F S KO O K- UM W O O D , F R OM THE M C M I LLA N POR TA G E , O N T H E N I C OM E KL R I V E R , S CU TH OF L A NG L E Y . THE T A I L P I EC E , I S O F B O NE F R OM T H E I C EB ER G MEA T M A R K E T R UN B Y MR , ED J O NES OF LA NG L E Y, B , C ,

THE TA I L P I NE , O R PE G , I S OF B UC KH O R N , A ND WAS G I V E N B Y MR . LO T T, W H O DO NA TED T H E PLOT OF

G R O U ND O N WH I C H TO PLA C E THE C A I R N WH I C H M A R KS T H E POR T A G E O N THE N I C OM E KL R I V E R , A T L A NGLE Y, B , C .

T H E S O U N D POS T, I S M A D E F R OM A S L I V E R OFF O NE O F T H E LOGS I N T H E OLD H UDS O N ' S BA Y F OR T B U I LD I NG A T L A N G L E Y, B , C .

T H E C A S E I F OF C O T TE NW O O D , F R OM EA R L ' S S AWM I LL , A T F OR T LA NG L E Y, A ND I S C O V E n E D W I TH C A LF S K I N F R OM MR , E D J O NE S ' S LA U G H TER-HO US E I N L A N G L E Y, B . C , _ T H E C A S E I S L I NED W I TH B UC KS K I N, F R OM DEER S H O T B Y G . R . WR I GH T, NEAR Q UE S N E L L E , B , C ,

T H E HA N D L E O N TH E CAS E , I S A B UC KH O rm, G I V E N B Y M R , L O T T A T TH E O L D POR TA G E , S O U T H OF LA NG L E Y,

B , C .

T H E B o w I S OF S KO O K- UM W O O D , F ROM T H E S A L M O N R I V E R , WES T OF F OR T L A NG L E Y, A ND T H E H A I R I S F R OM THE O L D H U DS O N ' S BA Y F A R M , N O W O WN E D B Y M R . H E LME R , T WO M I LES S O U TH O F FOR T LA NG L E Y, B . C .

T H E PAR C H M E N T , OR VEL L UM , O N WH I C H TH I S C E fn l F I C A TE I S WR I T TE N , I S O F LAMBS K I N F R OM THE S LA UG H T E R - H O US E OW NED B Y M R . ED J O NES OF LA NG L E Y, B . C .

THE R UNGS I N T H E ENDS OF T H E PAR C H M E N T, O R S CR O L L , A ;:I E M A D E OF C H ER R Y-WO O D , F R OM T H E LA D Y D O UG L A S C H ERR Y T R E E , WH I C H ( I T I S SA I D ) S H E PL A N TED I N T H E O L D F OR T C OM PO U ND , A T F OR T LA NG L E Y, G . C .

S E RV I CE I S THE R ENT THA T VIE PA Y F O R O UR ROOM O N EA R T H

. . . . L O R D HA L I F A X

F ES T I VA L S O L O I S TS B Y A D A M C G EER

C R I T I C i SM , F OR A ND A G A I NS T TH E M US I C AL A ND T H E A TR I C AL E V E N TS OF V A NC C UV E R ' S F I RS T I N TER-NA T I O NA L F ES T I VA L HAS B E E N F R E E L Y E X PR ESS ED . I N ' T H I S S PA C E OF W O R DS THERE H A S B EE N L I T TL E F A UL T TO F I ND W I TH TH E S O L O I S TS , W H I C H WAS NO T S UR PR I S I NG A S T H E Y W E R E , O N T H E W H O L E , O F H I G H CA L I B R E ,

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F ES T I VA L S O LO I S TS (C ONT ' D )

T HE PER F O R MA NC ES O F G L E N GO ULD HA V E B E E N D I S C US S ED I N A PR E V I O US I SS UE Cf TH I S MA GAZ I NE , B U T T H ER E W E R E O THER C A NAD I A NS O F WHOM WE C A N S PE A K W I TH PR I DE ,

A T " T�E O PE N I NG C O N CER T, C O NDUC T�D B Y B R U NO WA L T E R , M A UR E E N F O R R ES TE R S A NG BRA HM S " A L T O RHA pS O D Y" . H E R R I C H C O N TRA L TO B L E ND I NG W I TH A M A L E C H O R US , WAS PR O J EC TED W I TH D E E P S P I R I TUAL S I GN i f i C A NC E U NDER T H E GREA T M A S TER ' S B A T O N , LA TER I N B E R D I ' S " R EQ U I EM " , A F I NE I M PR ESS I ON W I TH THE D E E P WARMTH OF H E R V O t C E A ND T H E V ERSA T I L I T Y OF H ER S T YL E .

T O TH OS E WH O H A V E COME T O A SS OC I A T E LO I S M A R S HA L l. W I TH S A C R E D M US I C , H E R R EC I TA L Of S O NG S B Y PUR"C�l.L , S C H UB E R T , MARLER , D E FA LLA, BR I T TE N , E TC . C A M E AS A Pl.EAS A N T S UR PR I S E . H OW E V E R , T H E THR I LL I NG " Q UA L I T Y OF H ER V O I C E A ND H ER S E NS I T I V E I NT E R PR E TA T I O N OF T H E S O PR A N O S O L O S I N V E R D I ' S " R E Q U I EM " , WA� A " s i I R R I NG EX PER I ENC E , " A LS C I N T H E " R EQ U I EM " , C A NA D I A N B O R N G E OR G E LO N D O N GAVE V O C A L A U THOR I TY TO THE BASS S O L OS , I N " D O N G I OV A NN I " H I S C OMMA ND I NG PR ES E N C E A ND R ES O N A N T TONES C A M E I N TO THE I R " F ULl. POWER WH E N H E S TA R R E D AS TH E F A M OUS D O N . PLA Y I NG TH E F EM I N I NE LEAD, J O A N S U T H E R L A N D , A US TR A l. I A N S O PR A N O , C A M E "NEAR TO S TE A L I NG T H E SHOIV . A S D O NNA A NNA HER L OV EL Y V O I C E S OA R ED A T EASE I N THE EX A C T I NG M O Z A R T A R I AS ,

A LS O I N T H I S O PE R A , L E O POl.D S I M ONEA U AS D O N O T TA V I O, P I E R E T TE A LER I E AS Z ER L I NA , M I L L A A ND R EW AS D O NNA ELV I R A , J A N R O UB ES AS L E PO R E L L O , BER NA R D T UR G E O N AS MA Z E T TO A ND D O N M ACMA N US AS T H E C OMM E NDA TOR E , f i LLED T H E I R R O LES W I TH C O N V I C T I O N A ND ADDEO TO C A NAD I A N L A UR E LS .

LA TER I � J O I N T R E C I TA L , S I M O NE A U A ND A L E R I E, WHO A R E HUSBA ND A ND W i f E , WERE H E A R D I N D UE TS B Y M OZ A R T A ND S C H UB ER T A ND " I N S O L OS B Y F R ENCH C OM POS E R S , T H E I RS WAS A PO L I S HED PERF O RM A N C E A PPEA L I NG TO T H E I N I T I A TE D , B U T O NE F E L T T H E C A L I B R E O f B O TH V O I C ES WAS BES T S U I TED T O THE O PE R A T I C F I EL D ,

A NO THER H US B A N D- W I F E TEAM , V R O N S K Y A ND B A B I N, GAVE A N E X PE R T D EMONS TRA T I O N Of D U O WORK O N TWO P I A NOS A L T E R NA T I NG Vl I TH DUE TS O N O N E P I A NO , D YNAM I C PO VlER, V I TA L I TY A ND TONA L B A LA NC E WER E R E V EALED I N WO R KS B Y BRAHMS A ND S TR A V I NS K Y F OR TWO P I A NOS , A ND (M O R E I N T I MA TE I N MOOD A ND S T YLe: ) WOR KS B Y S C H U B E R T AND B I Z E T F OR F OUR HA NDS ON O NE P I A NO ,

W I TH TH E E M PHAS I S L A R G E L Y O N M US I C , MARCEL M A R C E A U , f AM O US M I M E , MADe: T H E O U T S T A N D I NG C O N TR I B U T I ON T O THE F I E L D OF DHAMA . T H E WOR D L ES S F R E NC HM A N , WHO H A S M O R E C A PA C I T Y F OR C OMM U N I CA T I ON T H A N A R A D I O NE TWOR K, W A L K E D U pS TA I RS , B A L A NC ED H I MS ELF ON A T I G H T- R O PE , SWAL LOWED S W O R D S A ND O TH ER W I SE M ES M E R I Z E D H I S A UD I E NC E I N TO S EE I NG WHA T WAS N ' T TH ER E , H I S WAS T H E A R T Of M I M E A T I TS PEA K, F OR U N D E R L Y I NG T H E V I S UA L PE R f O R M A N C E WAS T H E AR T I S T ' S I N­S I G H T I N TO T H E WHOLE H UMA N C OM E D Y . I T WAS TH I S Q U A L I T Y WH I C H B R O UG H T TH E A UD I E NC E T O TEARS A ND L A UG H TE R A ND F I NA L L Y T O I TS F E E T I N R O US I NG A ? PLA US E .

T O ENJO Y HA PP I NESS S HA R E I r . . . .

" C O NT R O L " I N VO I L I N PLA Y I NG B Y D O N WH I TE

My S ER I ES OF A R T I CLES ON " I TA L I A N T O N E , POR TA M ENTO V I B R A TO , E TC . C A M E TO A S UD D E N S TC P O W I N G TO THE PR E S S OF' T I M E AND S PACE HEQU I R E D F O R THE H OBB Y S H OW A C T I V I T I ES .

O N R E- R E A D I NG M Y E D I TOR I A L TH I S M O N TH I R EA L I ZE THE R E A R E A DVA N TA G ES TO THE f i RS T S TA G E Of S TU D Y . I T C E R TA I NL Y G I VES O N E S UF f i C I EN T C O NC E I T A ND I NC E NT I VE T O A I R O N ES V I EWS WH I C H A W I S E ti MA N M I G H T HES I TA TE TO DO ,

M UC H HAS LA TELY B EE N WR I T TE N ON T H E D I F F E R E NC E OF' V I O L ! N PLA Y I NG NOW PF: A C T I S ED T O THA T WH I CH WAS I N V O G UE 60 YEARS OR M O R E A G O ,

W H E N WE EX A M I N E THE pS YCH O L O G Y OF' SA Y T H E V I C TOR I A N A G E WE f I NO MUCH S E N T I ME N TA L I T Y, N O T O N L Y I N M US I C B U T I N EV E R YDA Y A f f A I RS , T H E V I C TO R I A N " D R A W I NG ROOM" F O R E X A M PLE WAS A PL A C E C L U T TER E D W I TH F UR N I T UR E . ORNA M E N TS A ND PH O TOGR A ?HS C O V E R E D THE WA L L S A N D T H E P I A N O T O P W A S A G A T H E R I NG PLA C E F O R THES E S E N T I M E N TA L O B J E C TS , I T ViAS A N A G E OF EMB E L L I S HM E N T A ND S E N T I M E N T A L O R NA M E N TA T I ON .

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" CO NT R O L " I N V I O L I N PLA Y I NG ( C O N T ' D )

I T I S O N L Y NA TUR A L THA T TH I S PS YC H O L OG Y WAS R Ef L E C T E D I N T H E M US I C Of T H E A G E . T H E

PO PULAR B A L L A DS W I TH T H E I R UNRES TRA I NE D EMO T I O NA L I N T E R PR E TA T I O N I S A G O O D I LLUS T R A T I ON Of

WHA T I M EA N .

I N V I OL I N PLA Y I NG TH E Y D EM A NDED , O R A T A N Y R A TE C O N D O NED, A C OM PL E TE E X H I B I T I O N O F G YM­NAS T I CS , T H E I N T R O D UC T I O N OF U I, C O N T R O L L E D POR TAM E N T O A N D A C C E P TED A L L THE A D D I T I ON A L EMBELL I S H ­

M E N TS TH A T T H E A R T I S T C OULD TH I NK U P I N O R D E R T O P U T O N A G O OD S H O W .

I T WAS A N A G E TH E N , Of U N C O N TR O L L E D EMO T I O N . C OM PA R E I T TO O U R M OD E R N C O NC E P T Of

S I M PL I C I T Y . T H E O LD O R D ER C E R TA I NL Y H A S CHA NG E D . C O NS I D E R M OD ER N A R C H I T E C T U R E , TH E S I M PL I C I T Y

OF H O M E F UR N I S H I NG S A ND T H E S TR EAML I N I NG OF E V E R Y D A Y PR AC T I C A L U T I L I T I ES ; T H E OBL I TE RA T I O N O F

A L L F A NC Y f R I LLS .

Y E T NO O NE WOULD A DM I T THA T WE H A V E LESS EMO T I ON THA N OUR A NC ES TORS B U T I T I S E X H I B I TE D

I N A DEF I N I TE L Y M OR E A R T I S T I C A ND C O N TR O L LED M A N N E R .

I N M US I C VIE f i ND TH I S S A M E TREND . A TEN D E NC Y TO A P? E A L TO O UR f i NE R F EEL I NG S . L I S TE N

T O T H E D EL I GH T F UL S I NG I NG O f S UC H A N A R T I S T A S I NG R I D B J O NE R , O R A V I O L I N I N T H E H A N D S O F O N E

OF C UR f OR EMOS T PLA YER S , W E f i ND A D E C I D E D L Y C O N TR O L L E D I N TER PR E TA T I ON , O N E THA T E X C I TES O UR

E M O T I ONS J US T A S M UC H AS D I D T H E S I NG E R O R PLA YE R Of S I X TY YEA�S A G O . T H E D I F F E R E N C E B E I NG

T H A T WE PREF ER TO R EC E I V E TH I S E M O T I ONAL D I S TU R B A NC E I N Q U I TE A D I F f E R E N T M A NNER TO O UR F O R E­

FA THERS .

WH E N WE EXAM I NE TH E M E TH OD A N D TEC H N I QUE THA T THE M O D E R N V I OL I N I S T U S E S WE F I ND I T

I DE N T I CA L TO H I S PR E D E C ES S O R S EX C E PT TH A T NOW H I S V I B R A TO A ND ES PEC I A LL Y H I S POR TAM E N T O A R E S O WELL C O N TR O L L E D THA T M A N Y D EC LA R E TH E Y A R E NO L O NG E R I N US E , T H E F A C T REMA I NS , AS I H A V E

R E PEA TED L Y S TA TE D , T H A T AS'

L O NG A S A V i OL I N I S T S E E KS TO PR O D UC E T H E S I NG I NG TO NE H E W I LL

PR O D UC E I T W I TH EX A C TL Y TH E S A M E TEC H N I Q U E AS I S U S E D W I TH TH E H UMA N VO I C E . S H OULD H E C E A S E

TO PR O D U C E T H E S O M UC H DES I R E D S I NG I NG TO NE .

D O N ' T VIORR Y I T �1;\ Y NEVER H,\ PPEN • • • • • • • • •

LE T T ERS T O THE ED I T O R : D E A R M R . WH I TE :

T H E V I O L I N MA KERS ' J O UR NA L HAS A R R I V E D A N D B E E N R EA D , I A M M UC H I M PR ES S E D W I TH YOUR

O R GA N I ZA T I O N : T HE N E E D OF C O L L E C T I V E S TU D Y A ND A C C UM ULA T I O N OF I NF O R MA T I O N H A S L O NG B E E N

N E E D E D , A ND I S C ER TA I N T O B E B E NE F I C I A L T O A L L C O NC ER NE D ,

I AM A G R A D UA T E V I OL I N I S T F R OM J U I LL I A R D A ND H A V E A M A S TER ' S D E G R E E I N V I O L I N F R OM T H E

U N I V E R S i T Y O F M I C H I GA N . PR '::J F ES S I ONA L L Y I A M EX P E R I E N C E D A S S O L O I S T, Q UA R T E T PLA YER A ND A S A T E A C H ER . D UR I NG TH E PA S T 1 5 YE A R S I H A V E V I S I TE D M OS T OF T H E MA J O R D E A L E R S I N TH I S C O UN TR Y A S

W E L L A S A N U M B E R O r PR I V A TE C O L L E C TORS A ND PLA YE D T H E B E S T OF V I OL I NS B O TH I TA L I AN A ND O T HE R S ; N E W A ND O L D . F U R TH E R I H A V E S T U D I ED A L L T H E L I TERA TUR E A V A I LA B L E O N T H E S UB J EC T; ES P E C I A LL Y

S UC H WOR K A S D O NE B Y D R . S A U ND ER S . O F A L L M Y E X PE R I E N C E W I TH V I O L I NS , " B L I N D F O L D " T E S TS 8 0 TH

W I TH AMA T E UR S A NO PROF E S S I O NALS H AS B En! M OS T I N T E R ES T I NG , E v I D E NC E H A S R E PEA TEDL Y P R O V E D

THA T B O TH PLA YE RS A ND L I S T E N E R S A R E D E A L I NG W I TH S UB TL E A ND POOR L Y D EF I N E D T O N A L E L E M E N TS WHE N

PLA Y I NG A N Y K I ND Or I NS TR UM E N T ; E S PEC I A L L Y S TR I NG S . I T I S M Y C O NS I D E f1 ED O P I N I ON THI\ T THE

C OM M U N I C A T I O N O F I NF O R MA T I O N I S O r TE N B :J T H E R E D B Y S EMA N T I CS , TH I S I S ES PEC I A L L Y TR UE OF C ON-

S I D E R A T I O N OF S TR I NG E D I NS TR UM E N TS . C O NS I D ER O UR V OC A B ULA K Y OF D ES C R I B I NG T O NE ; S W E E T , B R I G H T, NA S A L, WOOD Y, E TC . I F YOU TH I NK f OR A M OM E N T THES E VlOR D S A R E C OMM O N L Y U ND E R S 'rOOD A N D DEF I NE D

B Y MOS T PEO PL E I N T E R ES T E D I N T H E F I EL D , H A V E YOUR M EM B ER S H I P D Ef i NE E A C H WOR D , THER E W I LL

S UR E L Y B E r U N D A M E N TA L D I F F E R E NC ES OF D EF I N I T I O N !

T H E SC I E NC E OF A C O US T i cs A N D KNOWL E D G E Or PH YS I CS Or S O UND HAS PRO G R E S S E D F A R E NO UGH S O

THA T M UC H O F T H E N A T UR E OF S OU ND I S U N D E R S TO OD , YE T I T H A S B E E N M Y E X ?ER I E N C E THA T M O S T MA K E R S

D O N O T U ND E R S TA ND T H E B A S I C NA T U R E O F T H E S O U N D W I TH WH I C H THE Y A R E W O R K I NG . F OR EXA M PLE, THE

M A T TE R OF " C AR R Y I NG PO W E R " I S C LE A R L Y NO T UNDER S TO OD . O N E F R EQ U E N TL Y H E A R S A ND R EA D S THA T " TH E

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J

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LE\T T ERS TO T H E ED I TOR ( CONT ' D )

TONE IS NOT POWER f" U L , B U T HAS E X C E L L E N T C A R R Y I NG POv/ER " , I N TR U TH THE POVJ ER OF THE TO NE Of" A N

I NSTR U MENT I S A N I M POR TA N T F A C TOR I N THE " C AR RY I NG POWER" ,

E NC LO S E D I S $ 2 . 00 F OR ALL THt N UMB E RS OF V O L UM E I I F THE Y ARE A V A I L A B LE ,

LARRY OWE N , REDWOOD C I TY, C A L I F ,

• l • • • , • " D E A R M R , WH I TE :

THE V I O L I NS ARR I VED SAF EL Y O N THE 1 6TH A ND I THA N K YOU F O R PA C K I NG ' THEM SO WEL L , ALS O F OR

A L L THE TROUB LE A ND I NTEREST YOU HAVE TA KEN IN M A K I NG THE HOB B Y S H OW A SUC CESS, I F THER E WERE

M O R E SHOWS WHERE MODER N M A K E R S C O ULD EXH I B I T TH E I R I NS TH UM E NTS TO PLAYERS A ND MUS IC I A NS, I TH I N K THE I DEA THAT NO TH I NG B UT AN C LD I NSTR UME NT I S G O O D WOULD S O O N D I E OUT .

YOUR SURM I SE THA T C UTT I NG OUT T HE B R I DG E C OM PENSATES F O R A HEI\V Y B,A S S B AR I S N O T COR REC T , T H E C U T T I NG O U T OF THE HOLES I N THE B R I D GE A DDS V O L UM E U P TO A CERTA I N EX TENT, B UT I F C A R R I ED

T O O F A R I T G O ES DO W N T H E O TH E R WA Y, V O L UM E DEC R E ASES , I N M'y O P I N I ON THE B R I DG E I S O N E OF" T H E

MOST I M PORTA NT PAR TS O F A N I NS TR UM E N T , A GR EA T M A N Y F OL KS TH I NK A BRI DGE I S C U T F O R LO O KS, B U T I T I S NOT POSS I B LE TO C UT I T A N Y OTH ER WA Y , Q UI TE 1\ F E W YE A R S A G O TWO E NG L I SHMEN MADE A

LOT OF" EX PER I MENTS W ITH THE B R I DGE US I NG MA N Y D I F F E� E N T K I NDS OF WOOD A ND A L L K I ND S Of" SHA PES

THEY COULD DEV I S E , B UT C O ULD N O T M A K E A NY I M PROVEME N T OVER S TR A D ' S BRI DGE ,

C A L L T HE B ASS B A R THE NERV O US R E G ULA TOR OF A N I NS TR UME NT, O N I T D E PE NuS M UC H OF THE

V O L UM E A ND E A S E OF AR T I C \J LA T I ON A B OV E THE TH I R D POS I TION , WHEN YOU M A K E A TOP A ND B R ING I T TO

PRO PER TH I C K NESS A ND THEN C U T THE F H OLES YOU C U T EVERY L O NG f I B R E I N THE T O P EXCE PT THOSE

BETWEEN THE F H CLES , OF C O URSE TH I S L O WERS T H E T O NE Of T H E TOP TWO TO F GU R TONES , A B A R I S

PU T I N TO C O M PENSATE FOR THIS A R A IS E THE T O N E OF THE T O P A G A I N A ND I N MY O PI N I ON THE POS I T I O N

OF THE B A R I S V E R Y I M POR T A N T ESPEC I A L L Y AT T H E B fl l DG E PO I N T , i F B A R I S PU T TOO F A R O U T TOWA R D THE F HOLE I T I S A PT T O M A K E T H E T ONE C OAR�E

'A ND THE I NSTR UMENT H� R D �O T UNE , I F P U T T C O F A R

I N TH E UPPER S TR I NGS A RE I NC L I NED T O B E WEA K , I M I GH T A D D THAT M Y EX PERIENCE T EA C H ES ME T H A T

THE POS I T I O N OF TH E B A R HAS AS MUCH OR MOR E C ON T R O L O VER THE U P PER S T R I NG S T H A N THE LOWER , I D O N ' T B E L I EVE A N YO NE REALLY UNDERSTA NDS THE AC T IO N OF THE BASS B A R F OR C ER TA I N, I K NOW I DO N ' T, A LL I KNOW IS WH A T EX PER I E NC E HAS TA UGH T ME ,

W ILL B E L O O K I NG FOR THE NEX T C O py OF THE J O UR NA L . E . H , S A NGSTE:R , D A LLAS 2 , T EX A S ,

D I D T H E I TA L I A N MA S T ERS T U NE T H E I R PLA T ES - B Y E , H , E L L E R S I EC K

EDI TORS NOT E : M R , E L LERS I EC K, A PR OM I NENT V I O L I N MA KER O F C A L I F OR N I A , G I VES H I S V i EWS ON TH I S

C ONTROVERS I A L SUB J EC T , [ S PEC I A L L Y I N TE R ESTI NG SINCE I N A NO TH E R PA R T OF THE J O UR N A L WE H A VE DR . S A UNDERS VIEW POI NT .

T H E Q UEST ICN OF ViHE THER THE I TA L I A N MASTE RS D I D OR D I D NO T TU NE THE I R PLA TES H A S B EE N A

PROM I NEN T CONT R OVERS I A L MA TTER EVER S I NC E THE YE A R 1 898 , I N THAT YEAR O R , M A X GROSSM A N PUB­L I S H E D A O C' O K ON TH E TH EOR Y , HE INS I STED THA T THE C LASS IC A L I TA LI A N V I OLIN MA KERS HA D USED

THE SYSTEM OF T U N I NG THE PLATES OF T H E I R I NSTR UMENTS IN A C C O R D A NC E W I TH CERTA I N A C C OUST I C A l

L A WS A ND THAT TH I S PR A C T I CE WAS R ES PONS I B LE F O R THE BEA UTIFUL TONE Q U A L I T Y OF THE I R M AS TE R-P I ECES . HE F O U NDED A C O M PA N Y WHICH HE NAMED " NEW C R EMONA " , HE ENGA GEO A G O OD V I OL IN MA KER B Y

THE NA ME OF O TT O S E I f"ERS A ND TUR NED O U T M A N Y V I OL I NS, V I OlAS A ND CELLOS , T H E RESU L T WAS NOT

THE I TA L I A N TO N E Q U A L I T Y B UT A M I X T URE OF G C O O , MEO ! OC R E A ND EVEN BAD O NE S . T H E C OM PA N Y

F A I L E D S O O N A F TEIi WA R D S , PEO PLE A LWAYS WA N T M YS TE R Y A ND I N OR DER , THA T THOSE OF MY READERS M A Y

M A K E U P THE I R OWN M I NDS I W I LL TR Y TO E X PLA I N T H E METHOD USED B Y TH E C LA SSI C A L V I O L I N MA KEI:] S

I N M A K I NG A V I O L I N , A ND UND E R S TA ND I NG OF THE METH O D US E D I S I ND I S PENS I B L E I N F ORM ULA T I NG O NES

O P I N I ON , Vi I TH I T, I A M SUR E , W I L L COME THE A NSWER OF �IH E TH ER OR NCT I T I S POSSIB LE THAT THE I TA L I A N MASTERS T UNED THEIR PLATES ,

T A K E F O R EXAM PLE, S TRAD I VA R I . HE F IRST B E N T T H E S IDES O V E R A M O LD W ITH C C' R NEr. A ND U PPER

A ND L OWER B L O C K S ATTA C HED, B U T NO L I N I NG , MA N Y O F H I S O R I G I NA L M O L D S ARE S T I LL I N EX I STA NC E .

A F TER THE S IDES HAVE B EEN B U I L T, H E T R A C E D TH E O U TL I NE O F THE S I D E S O N T H E F" LAT P I EC ES O F WOOD

I - 1 2 - 7

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D I D T HE I TA L I A N MAS T ERS T U NE T HE I R PLA TES ( C O N T ' O )

I N T E N D E D TO B E THE TO P A N D T H E B A C K OF T H E V I O L I N . T H I S H E T H E N S A WE D O U T R O UG H L Y L E A V I NG

Q U I TE A M A R G I N F O R THE PR O TR U D I NG E D G ES . A F TER TH I S H E MA D E THE A R C H I NG O N B O TH PLA TES

F I N I S H I NG US UA L L Y ABOUT A Q UA R T E R OF A N I NC H FROM T H E O U TS I D E E DG E . HE T H EN F I N I SH E D T H E

I NS I D E O F B O TH TO P A ND B A C K T O T H E D ES I R E D TH I C KNESS, C U T T H E " F" HO LES A ND A T TA C H E D T H E BAS B A R .

N Ow D O N O T G E T I M PA T I E N T A ND A S K H OW I KNOW THA T TH I S W E R E T H E S T E PS T A K E N I N PR O D UC T I ON, THE A NS W ER IV I L L A P PEAR . A F TER F I N I S H I NG THE TO P A ND B A C K W I TH THE E X C EP T I ON OF THE C R UD E

M A R G I N O F T H E E D G E , H E F AS TENED THEM L OOS E L Y OVER THE S I D ES WH I C H W E R E S T I LL O V ER T H E M O LD . T H E N H E DR I L LE D H O L ES THR O UGH T H E TO P A N D B A C K I N TO TH E U PPER A ND L OWER B L O C K S TO M A R K TH E

EX A C T POS I T I ON , HE T J O K T�E S I D E S O F T H E M O L D A ND F I T TE D A ND G L U E D T H E L I N I N GS ON THEM . T � E N

WH E N T H E F I T T I NGS W E R E D R Y, H E C U T'

T H EM TO F OR M A ND F AS TE N E D T H E'

B A C K T O T H E F I N I S H E D S I D E S ,

S ECUR I NG I T W I TH O NE W O O D E N PLU G I N EAC H BEF O R E ' M E N T I O N E D H OL E'

I N T H E B A C K . T HE S A M E PR C C E S S A P PL I E D T O T H E TO P . I F H E E V ER T U N E D H I S PLA TES , H E HA D T O D O I T � H E G L UED T H E M T 0 T H E S I D ES . I F H E T U NE D TH E T O P W H E N D I D H E D O I T ? B E F O R E THE " F " H O L ES WERE C U T A ND THE B A S B A R F I T TE D ? I F S O , THE R EM OV A L O F T H E WOOD F O R TH E " F" HOLES A ND T H E A D D I NG OF T H E BASBAR W O U L D

T H R O W TH E T O P O U T OF TUNE . Now A F TER G LU I NG THE V I O L I N TOG E THER W H A T D I D H E H A V E T O D O ? C U T T I NG THE E D G ES D O W N S O I T PR O TR UD E D E V E N L Y A L L A R O U ND T H E S I D E S , WH I C H M E A NS R EMOV I NG W O O D

AGA I N . T H E N H E M A D E A G R O OV E F O R T H E PURF L I NG F I L L I NG I T W I TH T H E PURF L I NG W H I C H I S OF

HA R D E R W O O D (M A YBE ) AF T E R A L L T H I S HE HAD TO G O UG E O U T A L L A R ') UN D T H E O U T E R E D G E A ND S C R A PC:

S T I LL M OR E WOOD OFF I N O R D ER TO M A K E A N E V E N F L OW OF THE A R C H I NG TOWARDS T H E O U TER EOG E A F TER

THA T H E TAKES S T I L L M OR E WOOD A W A Y TO RO U ND T H E O U TER EDGE W I S E L Y , ONE C A N S E E THA T T H E

TUN I NG W O U L D B E VER Y M UC H D I S TURB E D . T H E I TA L I A N MAS TERS W E R E J US T G O O D C R A F T S M E N I N TERES T E D I N T H E I R WOR K EX PEH I M E N T I NG A L L T H E T I M E A ND C OM I NG TO TH E E X C E LL EN T R ES UL TS B Y S TU D Y I NG TH E

WOOD A T H AND .

B U T AS I S A I D BEF OR E , PE O PL E WA N T M YS TER Y I F T H E Y D O N ' T H A V E t T, TH E Y M A K E I T U P . S OM E E V E N MA D E T H E O L D MAS T E R S G R EA T MA THEMA T I C I A NS A ND S C I E N T I S TS . M A N Y O F THEM C O ULD NO T EVEN READ A ND WR I TE BUT KNEW TH E I R V I O L I NS ,

G R OSSMA N S UR E S TA R TED S O M E T H I NG . I F T H E NEX T F EL L O W S TA R TED S O M E TH I NG I I FF ER E N T L E T US S A Y . T H E MAS T E R S B O I LE D THE WO O D I N O I L, m A T W I L L TH E N B E THE TH I NG . I AM S UR E , THA T I W I L L.

G E T I T I N THE NEC K, ON A C C O U N T OF TR Y I NG TO D I S TU R B T H E A B O V E THEO R Y , B U T T H E A B O V E I S M Y

O P I N I O N, A ND HA V I NG WOR KED O N A L L K I ND S O F V I O L I NS F O R 58 YEA R S I S H O ULD H A V E A L I T TL E I D EA O F WHA T I AM TA L K I NG AB O U T . I F S TR A D I VAR I WAS A L I V E . H E S U R E W O U L D HA V E A G O OD LA UGH .

H . E L LERS I EC K , L A G U N A B E A C H , C A L I F OR N I A .

T URNABOUT - T H E G O O D L I T TL E M I NK D I ED A ND WE N T TO H E A V E N

W H E R E S T , PE TER M E T H 1 M A T T H E PEA R L Y G A TES .

" YO u W E R E A GOOD L I T TL E M I NK O N E A R TH . " T H E K E E PER OF

T H E G A TES G R E E TED H 1 M , " S O Y O U C A N HA V E A N Y T H I NG YO U L I KE I N H EA V E N . "

" WE L L " , T H E L I T TL E M I N K R E PL I E D , " I T H I NK I ' D L I KE A C OA T MA D E OF L I T TLE C H O R US G I R LS . "

WH E N YO U ' R E THRO UGH C H A NG I NG - YO u ' R E T H R O U G H . . .

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